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2 Week Italy Tours & Trips

Filter for departure dates and price to find the right 2 week Italy tour with TourRadar. Choose from 152 trips with 3,344 customer reviews, that range from 11 up to 14 days.

152 Italy 14 Days tour packages with 3,344 reviews

• In-depth Cultural

Best of Italy

Micol was the best! Hope all other Intrepid tour leaders are like Micol. My wife and I enjoyed the tour so much. It was “The Best of Italy” indeed. We have learned so much of Italy so far. Micol was excellent in managing the tour. Micol was very informative and knowledgeable and has answered for every question we asked. It was hectic and very challenging at our age level but Micol was very accommodating and made things manageable. It saved us the hassle in coordinating the accommodation and transportation. Micol organized the option of getting together on lunches, dinners or tapas. It made the group more familiar of each other and comfortable.

Ultimate Italy

This is a self-directed tour. The tour leader is there to make sure the transportation goes smoothly and to ensure the hotels are arranged. Besides a couple of group dinners, you are expected to make your own site-seeing arrangements. Communications from the tour operator, prior to the tour departure date, are sparse and you do not receive a lot of detailed scheduling Information. The tour leader was knowledgeable and very helpful.

• Coach / Bus

Italy's Best

I liked the tour very much, well planned, the tour director excellent, only some hotels were not so good, but they were only like 3, the rest were excellent. As for the food I did not like much especially the first dinner in Rome, very bad food and attention, but overall I enjoyed a lot, and of course I will travel with you again. Thank you!

Highlights of Sicily

• Christmas & New Year

Tutta l'Italia

It was smooth and successful having the hotels and transfers between each city. The first seven days were extremely busy with full guided tours and then the pace slowed down to have more free time and relaxing moments the second half of the trip once we were along the coastal cities of Sorrento and Cinque Terre. This was a good tour to see many cities and the guides were knowledgeable and helpful in sharing the history of Italy. I know know which areas I will be going back to for longer time periods in my next trip.

Iconic Italy National Geographic Journeys

The tour was an amazing mix of included activities and feee time. Our CEO (Stefano) was amazing and would organize group dinners at great restaurants so that we could get to know each other. The hotels were in great locations so that you could come and go during the day if you wanted to. The small group size made the tour much more enjoyable as you could get to know everyone. I would highly recommend this tour.

Highlights of Sicily & Southern Italy

The tour covered long distances. Each day covered too many sights, though it would be impossible to travel there as an individual. I loved each place we visited, plus all the excursions, but it could have been at a slower pace. People became tired and dropped out of some excursions. More time out and not needing to be up each morning between 5.30 - 6.30am would have been more relaxing.

Italia Amore Mio (Small Group)

Best of Italy (Summer, 13 Days)

We had an incredible trip. In 12 days we saw and experienced more than I could have imagined or hoped for. Victorio was perfect and given the opportunity we would love to travel with him again. He went out of his way to make every moment special. He also prepared an experience for our anniversary that we will never forget. Thank you Trafalgar!

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Mamma Mia! - 13 Days/12 Nights

Thank you Eduardo & Italy on a Budget for a once in a lifetime visit to Italy ??!!

Italy: Amalfi Coast to Puglia (Naples to Alberobello) (2024) (Standard)

Shrines of Italy - Faith-Based Travel

Italian Glory (13 Days)

The entire tour was awesome. The tour director was superb. Every destination was so beautiful that we forgot the previous destination.

• Educational

Renaissance Italy

Best of Italy Culinary experience

What people love about 2 week italy tours.

mecol was great. went above and beyond

This tour is great for seeing numerous cities and historical sites in Italy, a one day trip over the border into Lugano, Switzerland was just a true delight and icing on the cake. I have now learned that the Cosmos level is the "budget" label for Globus, so expect mostly 3 star hotels that are located outside of the major cities. This wasn't too much an issue as public transportation (metro/bus) or taxi's are available from each hotels if needed. Some of the hotels have poor air conditioning so if that's a priority for you then consider a Globus level tour instead. Overall, the hotel we clean. We found it difficult to plan our excursions as the itinerary they provide is very vague with regards to the times of the optional excursions, but these were clarified on day one as we asked our tour director and she was able to tell us if we had enough time to do some of things we wanted to do that weren't offered. Expect to get up early as the bus is usually on the road by 7:30 am, but that's necessary to get to the sites before the crowds. As far as the optional excursions go, the first dinner in Rome was a bit of a disappointment as it wasn't in central Rome, the food was mediocre and the service was fair, the highlight was two elderly Italian men playing and singing live music - famous old Italian songs- a lot of us complained about this so maybe Cosmos will change that venue? The other excursions are well worth it, takes the hassle out of dealing with transportation and getting tickets. The ones not to miss are the Tuscan Farm Dinner, Lugano Switzerland Cable Car, Capri, Pompeii. I would recommend this tour for those who don't require a luxury hotel, I am glad we were able to experience it!

Regions in Italy

• South Italy (44)
• Northern Italy (12)
• Central Italy (10)
• Amalfi Coast (9)
• Tuscany (7)
• Sicily (17)

Other Regions in Italy

• South Italy 10 day Tours (219)
• South Italy 7 day Tours (173)
• Northern Italy 10 day Tours (125)
• Central Italy 10 day Tours (121)
• Northern Italy 7 day Tours (109)
• Sicily 10 day Tours (94)
• Central Italy 7 day Tours (82)
• Campania 7 day Tours (76)
• Tuscany 10 day Tours (75)
• Amalfi Coast 7 day Tours (71)
• Campania 10 day Tours (57)
• Amalfi Coast 10 day Tours (52)
• Puglia 10 day Tours (47)
• South Italy 2 week Tours (46)
• Tuscany 7 day Tours (46)
• Sicily 7 day Tours (45)
• Italy Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Itinerary Ideas for 10 Days in Italy, 2022-2023
• Best 7 Day Italy Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)
• Discover the Best Italy Vacation Packages 2024/2025
• What is the best time to visit Italy in 2024/2025?

BEST of Italy in 2 Weeks: Detailed 14-Day Itinerary (+Map & Planning Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: February 4, 2024

Planning a trip to Italy for the first time and getting overwhelmed? You are not alone! We get this question all the time: ‘What is the best Italy itinerary for a first trip’ ?

In all honesty, there is no one ‘best’ way to plan a trip to Italy. It’s a big and incredibly beautiful country and pretty much everywhere is worth visiting. But if this is your first trip to Italy and you don’t know where to start, I recommend focusing on the ‘musts’ – some of the most beautiful places in Italy that everyone should see at least once in a lifetime.

To help you plan a trip, in this guide, we share a detailed 2-week Italy itinerary that brings you to all the most famous places in the country : Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, but also the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscan countryside, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, and a few other destinations that should be at the top of every Italy bucket list.

Will you see everything in Italy in two weeks? No, definitely not! But if you want to see the main highlights and get a good idea of what Italy is about, this itinerary is a great first introduction to this amazing country. And take my word for it – you will want to go back and explore more!

So why do we recommend 2 weeks? In my opinion, you really need at least two weeks in order to quickly see all the ‘musts’ in Italy. If you have just a week or ten days, don’t worry – Italy is still more than worth a trip (it always is!). But if you want to cover all the main highlights, you’ll really need at least 12-15 days.

In this article, we focus on helping you make the most of your first trip and plan the most complete Italy itinerary in 2 weeks. At the bottom of this guide, you can also find our additional suggestions on places to see if you have more time.

Good to know: You can visit Italy in any season and this trip itinerary is suitable for any time of the year. Some coastal areas might be a bit deserted in winter, but if you absolutely want to see them, it’s possible too.

Also, this itinerary is structured in such a way that you don’t have to change hotels too often . This will save you time for practicalities and leave more time to explore.

Since most of the places covered in this Italian itinerary are cities, we DO NOT recommend renting a car for this trip . You can’t do much with a car in Rome or in Venice and you can easily travel between the main cities by train . And for those few places where it would be useful to have a car, you can take day tours (you can find all this info in our article).

If you want to explore a few places in northern Italy deeper, you could rent a car after you visit Venice and then return it in Milan . Depending on what exactly you want to see, it might make sense to consider hiring a car for this part of the trip.

How to use this itinerary: As you’ll see, this 2-week trip starts in Rome and ends in Milan . Both cities have major international airports and it’s quite easy to find flights to/from Rome or Milan from pretty much anywhere in the world. Of course, you can do the trip in the other direction, or you can also make a round trip starting and ending at any of the cities mentioned below . This itinerary is solely meant to give you an idea of what can be done and how you can plan a 2-week trip to Italy.

MAP: To help you get a better idea of where all these places are located, we also created a map indicating all the places covered by our itinerary.

Take a look!

This is our recommended Italy itinerary that covers all the best places in two weeks:

Day 1: Arrival in Rome

There is no better place to start your Italian vacation than in the Eternal City – the capital city of Italy – Rome .

For this itinerary, I recommend that you spend at least 3 full days in Rome: 2 days in the city itself, plus make a day trip to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. This way, you won’t have to change hotels too often and can see (albeit very shortly) some of the best places in southern Italy as well.

Depending on when your flight arrives, you might be able to see some of the landmarks of Rome on the first day already.

TIP: If you can make it, I highly recommend joining an evening walking tour of the city’s highlights – it’s a great first introduction to the city!

Accommodation: Stay in Rome for 4 nights. Here you can find our guide to the best area to stay in Rome . We recently stayed at 9Hotel Cesari and loved it (especially the breakfasts on their rooftop terrace). On a bit lower budget, Hotel Accademia is an excellent choice, and you’ll find many other hotels in the same area.

Days 2-3: Rome

While two days are really short for Rome, if you plan well, you can see most of the ‘musts’ in just 2 days.

We recommend focusing on the main attractions, such as the Vatican , the Colosseum , and all the famous sights in the historic city center (Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, etc.). In addition, you can also add one or two more local experiences such as e.g. a food tour . It will make your visit more memorable and also a bit more relaxing!

Good to know: Be sure to book your tickets/tours for the Colosseum and also for the Vatican in advance!!! Both are extremely popular attractions and tickets often sell out (in high season, sometimes a few weeks in advance). Tip! This Rome Tourist Card allows you to book timed entry tickets for both these attractions in one place, so you’ll also immediately see what is open on the day when you are there (and can adjust your itinerary if needed).

TIP: If you didn’t get the tickets in advance and they are sold out, you can usually still join one or the other guided tour (they usually have access to tickets that are reserved for tour groups). In any case, at least for the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, we highly recommend going with a guided tour rather than on your own. We took this amazing tour that also includes the Colosseum Underground and Arena Floor (these levels are not included with the regular ticket).

For more info on what to see and how to best plan your time, please see our 2-day Rome itinerary below . This itinerary includes all the top sights that you absolutely shouldn’t miss, a detailed schedule, as well as our experience-based tips on how to make the most of your short visit. Check it out!

LEARN MORE: How to see the best of Rome in 2 days

Day 4: Pompeii & Amalfi Coast day trip from Rome

You could easily spend this day in Rome and find plenty to do too. But if you want to make the most out of your two weeks in Italy, we recommend visiting Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast as a day trip from Rome . You don’t necessarily have to do it on day 4 of this itinerary; days 2 or 3 would work too, so you can move things around depending on your preference.

It’s quite a long drive to get to Pompeii from Rome, but if this is your first time in Italy and you want to see as many of the most famous places, then it’s probably worth it.

There are various tours that visit Pompeii and either Mt Vesuvius , Amalfi Coast , or Naples from Rome in one day. Any of these tours will be rushed if you only have a day, but all are really nice and you can’t really go wrong with either option.

• If visiting in the warmest months (+-March to October), we recommend this tour . It includes Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.
• If visiting in the lower season, we recommend this tour . In winter, it brings you to Pompeii and Naples.

TIP: If you’re just interested in the city of Naples, you can also easily come here for a day by train from Rome. In that case, see our recommended 1-day Naples itinerary . Here you can also find a more detailed guide to the best things to do in Naples .

And if you have a few days extra to add to your Italy itinerary, definitely consider spending more time in this area. In that case, you could probably better fly to Naples first, before going to Rome.

Alternative: If you don’t feel like doing a 12-13-hour day tour to Pompeii and rather stay in Rome, it’s a great choice too. In that case, we recommend getting a bit off the beaten path and visiting some of the most incredible ancient sites in Rome .

We recently did this amazing e-bike tour that brings you to the famous Appian Way, Roman aqueducts, and catacombs.

And with the extra time left in the city, you could visit some of the hidden gems of Rome or see some of the best viewpoints .

Day 5: Rome to Florence & visit Florence

Next on your Italy itinerary is Tuscany , one of the most beautiful regions in the country. We recommend basing yourself in Florence for the next few days. Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and is well worth a visit, but there are also some really nice places that you can see nearby. With just a few days here, you’ll have difficulties choosing where to go and what to skip!

Florence is just a short ride from Rome (+-1.5 hrs by train). Try to get an early train so you have enough time to explore the city after you arrive and drop off your luggage at your hotel.

On the first day in Florence, be sure to visit the musts, such as the Duomo Cathedral, the Uffizi Gallery, and/or Accademia Gallery . Depending on your interests, you can visit one or all three, but be sure to plan it well.

Good to know: All these places require a ticket and are extremely popular, so it’s essential to get tickets/tours in advance! Having your sightseeing itinerary well-planned upfront is the only way not to miss any of the most important sights and keep your Italian vacation enjoyable without feeling overwhelmed.

TIP: If you want to see as many of the musts in a short time, we recommend this popular tour that includes both – Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery. Afterwards, visit the Florence Cathedral and climb the Dome (be sure to get a timed-entry ticket !).

Then, stroll the streets of the city center and see some of the main highlights that don’t absolutely require tickets or reservations – such as Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Basilica Santa Croce, etc.

LEARN MORE: One Day in Florence

You’ll still have some additional time to explore Florence in the next days, but – depending on the day trips you choose – it will likely be just a few hours in the evenings after you get back from a tour. That’s why we recommend visiting the places that require a ticket on your first day already.

In the evenings, you can also enjoy some of the best sunset views from the nicest rooftop bars in Florence .

Needless to say, if you can add an extra day in Florence, you’ll be able to explore the city at a much more relaxed pace. But this counts for pretty much every place in this itinerary…

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Florence

Accommodation: Stay in Florence for at least 3 nights. Florence city center isn’t that big, but – to make things easier with the luggage and tours, stay somewhat close to the railway station. For one of our recent trips to Florence, we booked Hotel Croce di Malta – the location is excellent, they have a pool, and you can’t beat those rooftop views! On a bit lower budget, B&B Le Stanze del Duomo is one of the best price-quality hotels in the center!

Day 6: Tuscany day tour from Florence

While there’s plenty to see and do in Florence to fill a few days, you’ll likely want to see some of the famous Tuscan countryside as well.

So on your second day in Florence, we recommend taking a day tour to some of the nicest towns of Tuscany .

You could just take a train and visit the cities like Siena or Pisa on your own, but you would likely only see one town that way (and waste too much time in transit). Also here – if you want to make the most of your time, it’s best to go with an organized tour that visits a few of the very best places in a day.

TIP: We recommend this highly-rated day tour . It brings you to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the beautiful city of Siena, the charming medieval town of San Gimignano, and more. You could never see all these places in just a day on your own.

If you rather not join a tour, then take a train to Siena. Here you can find our guide to the best things to do in Siena , including a sample itinerary for your first. As an absolute minimum, don’t miss the Siena Cathedral !

Day 7: Cinque Terre day trip from Florence

Next is another place that’s probably high on your Italy bucket list – Cinque Terre . The famous 5 villages on the Ligurian coast are among the most visited and most photographed places in Italy.

If you plan well, it’s possible to see the best of Cinque Terre in just a day, also if you are visiting from Florence. You could take a train to La Spezia and on to Cinque Terre, following our detailed 1-day Cinque Terre itinerary . If you decide to go on your own, be sure to also read our practical tips for visiting Cinque Terre .

However, Cinque Terre is very popular and extremely busy (especially in the high season from March to October). So planning a quick visit here might be overwhelming…

TIP: If you want to see all the best places without having to plan anything, you’ll be glad to know that there are also some organized day tours from Florence to Cinque Terre. This highly-rated tour is one of the very best options for a day trip from Florence and covers all the musts in Cinque Terre.

Alternative/ addition day: If you are visiting Italy in the low season, you may want to skip Cinque Terre and visit Bologna instead (it’s just 40 minutes by train from Florence). Or, you could also add a stop in Bologna when traveling between Florence and Venice.

One day is enough to see the main sights in Bologna and it’s worth it if you can squeeze it in. But – as already mentioned before – you can add extra days pretty much everywhere in this itinerary and still not see it all…

READ ALSO: Florence to Bologna Travel Info & Best Things to Do in Bologna

Day 8: Florence to Venice & explore Venice

The second part of this 2-week Italy itinerary takes you to northern Italy. The next stop is Venice , just about 2.5 hrs from Florence by train. Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world and so no Italy trip itinerary would be complete without visiting here!

If you take a train early in the morning, you’ll be in Venice by noon, which leaves you plenty of time to get acquainted with the city and see some of the main highlights. We recommend spending 2 nights here, so you have 1.5 days, plus two evenings in Venice. Venice is magical at night – the city is so pretty and you can appreciate it so much more without all the day tourists around.

On your first day, you could tick some of the must-see places on your Venice bucket list. One of the musts is St. Mark’s Square and Cathedral (one of the most beautiful churches in Italy ), and the other – Doge’s Palace , just next door. Needless to say, these are very popular attractions, so also here you have to book your tickets (or tours) in advance.

TIP: We recommend a tour like this that covers some of the musts in the most efficient way. Ideally, opt for an afternoon tour, so that you don’t have to rush in order to get there on time.

After that, explore the city center on foot, see Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal. You should also take a Venetian gondola ride , which is another must-do in Venice!

READ ALSO: How to see the best of Venice in 1 day

Accommodation: Stay in Venice for 2 nights. To make things easy for yourself, you could stay close to the railway station – e.g. Hotel Carlton On The Grand Canal is a very good option and usually great value for the money. Alternatively, if you don’t mind taking a water bus to the more centrally-located places, check out H10 Palazzo Canova close to Rialto Bridge or Bauer Palazzo not too far from San Marco Square. For the ultimate Venitian experience, take a look at the famous luxury Hotel Danieli .

Day 9: Venice

Today, you have an entire day to explore Venice and its surroundings . You could opt to spend the day in the city, or you could also take a half-day trip to the nearby islands Murano, Burano, and Torcello (there are various boat tours that visit the islands in 4-6 hours ).

While not an absolute must, a visit to these islands is a nice opportunity to see some smaller Italian towns. Murano is famous for its glass-blowing factories, Burano – for its lace, and Torcello – for its Byzantine basilica. In addition, the towns are very colorful and picturesque, and completely different from Venice.

There is so much to see and do in Venice that you will easily fill the entire day in the city. So it all depends on your interests and how many activities you want to pack into your itinerary.

As a minimum, in addition to the places mentioned before, we recommend going to the top of St. Mark’s Campanile for some of the best views over the city and the Venetian Lagoon. In some seasons, it is now possible to reserve the tickets in advance (do it!). Otherwise, you’ll have to queue and wait a long time. If you can do it first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon, it will be easier to plan the rest of your day.

TIP: If you are looking for something special to do in Venice in the evening, check out this dinner cruise on the Venetian lagoon . Alternatively, see if there’s something interesting going on at Teatro La Fenice .

And if you can squeeze in an extra day in your itinerary, Venice is definitely worth a longer stay. In that case, check out our 3-day Venice itinerary for some inspiration on what to see and do depending on how much time you have.

READ ALSO: Best things to do in Venice

TIP: Next on your itinerary is Verona, Lake Garda, and Lake Como. If you want to explore these areas deeper, Venice would be a good place to rent a car for the remainder of this trip ( see here for the best car rental deals ). You can easily visit Verona by car, drive to (and maybe even around) Lake Garda, visit Lake Como, and then return the car in Milan.

Renting a car in Italy is normally not expensive, but driving and parking in the small towns by the lakes – especially in high season – can be very challenging.

Anyway, the rest of the itinerary below is created assuming you take a train. But you can easily adjust it if you decide to drive.

Day 10: Venice to Verona & explore Verona

The next stop on this Italian itinerary is Verona , one of the most romantic cities in Italy. It gets this reputation because of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, and Juliet’s House is one of the top attractions in the city.

The train ride between Venice and Verona takes about 1.5 hours, so you’ll have a big part of the day left to explore Verona. The city is quite compact and you should be able to see all the musts in a day.

As a minimum, be sure not to miss the Verona Arena , built 2000 years ago (best get a priority ticket for this one). Also the views from Torre dei Lamberti and the earlier-mentioned Juliet’s House with its famous balcony are must-see in Verona.

Just as in all the other cities, you can also find some really nice Verona city tours led by locals. There are walking tours , a very nice bike tour , and this food tour is very popular as well. The nice thing about Verona is that it’s not that big, and so you can see a lot at a rather relaxed pace.

LEARN MORE: Best Places to See & Things to Do in Verona

Accommodation: Stay in Verona for 2 nights. We recommend Hotel Milano & SPA***S – it offers excellent price/quality in the city center. And yes, it also has a beautiful rooftop terrace with an amazing view – something we recommend in every city in this itinerary because we love staying at hotels with nice rooftop terraces ourselves. It makes any city visit so much more memorable!

Day 11: Lake Garda day trip from Verona

Lake Garda is one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy and if you have an extra day in your itinerary, it’s well worth planning a short visit here as well. This is especially the case if you are traveling in the warmer months.

If you don’t mind changing hotels more often, you could stay in Sirmione on your way between Verona and Milan. However, keep in mind that there is no direct train from Verona to Sirmione, so you’ll have to travel by bus or train + bus, or arrange a private transfer. To make it easier and simpler to plan, you can just visit Lake Garda as a (half) day trip from Verona. It’s good not to have to pack/ unpack every day.

You can come here by public transport and explore on your own. In that case, be sure to decide in advance where you’ll visit – just Sirmione or also some other towns along the lake, and research the public transport options to get back to Verona in the evening. See our Lake Garda itinerary suggestions on how to spend a day here.

There’s also a nice half-day tour from Verona that visits Sirmione town and includes a short boat ride on the lake. Sirmione is one of the best places to see at Lake Garda and the one that’s the easiest to visit if you don’t rent a car and/or don’t have at least a few days in the area.

TIP: If you take a half-day tour to Lake Garda, you’ll have a free afternoon in Verona. If visiting on weekends in summer (Thursday to Sunday, from +- mid-June to early September), you can attend an opera at the Verona Arena . It’s a really special experience!

Alternative: If you decide to skip Lake Garda altogether, then you could add an extra day in Florence or in Bologna as mentioned before. Or – if you visit Lake Garda with a half-day tour, you could take a train to Milan in the afternoon already and save some time in your itinerary this way.

Day 12: Verona to Milan & explore Milan

The final destination in this 2-week Italy itinerary is Milan , where you can also visit the beautiful Lake Como nearby.

One of Italy’s biggest and richest cities, Milan is also one of the most fascinating places in the country. It has such a unique mix of old, historic places and modern contemporary lifestyle and architecture. Plus, if you like Italian fashion and want to do some shopping, Milan will not disappoint either.

The train ride from Verona to Milan takes about 1.5 hours, and since you have almost two days for the city alone, you should be able to see all the musts in a rather relaxed way.

On your first day in Milan, you could visit the two main attractions – the Duomo Cathedral and see Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper . There are also some great tours that visit The Last Supper and some of them also bring you to the Cathedral. It’s also well worth visiting the Duomo rooftop , but you can leave it for the next morning as well.

Good to know: Also here, whatever you decide, be sure to book tickets/ tours for the most popular places in advance! Tickets for The Last Supper are often sold out a few months upfront, but finding a guided tour is much easier (they pre-book tickets and can usually accommodate last-minute bookings as well).

Accommodation: Stay in Milan for 3 nights. Hotel Dei Cavalieri Milano Duomo is a great option right in the heart of the old town.

Day 13: Milan

Today, you have an entire day to explore Milan . Visit the highlights in the old city center, but don’t miss the modern part of the town either!

For more information on what to see and do and how to plan your day, please see our recommended 1-day Milan itinerary . It includes all the musts and the details on how to best plan your time.

If you already visited the Duomo and/or Duomo Terraces and/or Da Vinci’s Last Supper the day before, just adjust your itinerary accordingly.

If you have some time left, you can go shopping in the center or visit Designer Outlet Serravalle (although this one will likely require an entire day).

In the evening, head to the Navigli district , aka the canals of Milan. It’s a very nice and lively neighborhood with lots of restaurants, bars, and cafes – a perfect place to end the day of sightseeing.

LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Milan

Day 14: Lake Como day trip from Milan

On the last day of your 2 weeks in Italy, we recommend visiting another famous lake in northern Italy, Lake Como . Located just near Milan, it’s an easy day trip destination and a wonderful addition to any Italian itinerary!

Just as with Lake Garda, you could visit Lake Como on your own. In that case, simply take a train from Milan to one of the towns (Como or Varenna are both good options) and then explore further.

However, ideally, you also take a boat trip on the lake and visit several of the nicest towns of Lake Como instead of one. And for that, it’s easier to join an organized tour and have them guide you to all the best places without having to plan or arrange anything.

TIP: We recommend this highly-rated day tour. It brings you to Como (including Villa Olmo), Bellagio , and Varenna – some of the most scenic places on Lake Como. It would be very difficult to plan a similar trip and see all of these sights in just a day on your own (mainly because tours use private transportation and don’t have to waste time waiting for trains or delayed ferries).

Also here, you could easily spend more time at Lake Como than just a day. In that case (or if you rather not take a tour even if visiting for just a day), you may want to read our guide with tips for visiting Lake Como .

READ ALSO: Top Places to See & Things to Do in Lake Como

So, this is it – the ultimate Italy itinerary that allows you to see ALL THE BEST PLACES in 2 weeks. Of course, there’s much more to see and do in Italy than the destinations covered here. But if you want to visit all the ‘musts’, this sightseeing itinerary does exactly that.

We planned this Italy itinerary in such a way that it starts and ends at the biggest towns with major international airports, Rome and Milan. There are lots of direct flights to/from both of these cities to many other places in the world. So it should be quite easy to plan your trip in such a way that you can fly home from Milan.

And if you absolutely want to make a loop, a round trip starting and ending in Rome, you can simply take a train from Milan to Rome, and fly out of there. The fast train between the two cities takes about 3.5 hours.

Good to know: If you take regular trains in Italy, you can just get a ticket at a station. However, if you opt for high-speed trains between the main cities (recommended), it’s best to reserve your seat in advance. You can use the official Trenitalia website for that, but keep in mind that standard tickets are usually non-refundable. We also recommend checking this website for all the best options for train tickets .

If you have more time…

If you have more time in Italy, you could add extra days pretty much anywhere in this itinerary and you’ll find plenty to do. We already included some additional recommendations above. And here are a few extra suggestions:

• You could add some extra time at the Amalfi Coast and also visit Capri Island and Naples . So instead of visiting this area on a day trip from Rome, you could stay here for several days. See our Amalfi Coast itinerary and Naples day trips for more suggestions on what to see and do there, and this guide for more information about the best areas to stay in Naples . You could easily add at least 5 days to your Italy trip itinerary just for this area – there’s so much to see!
• If visiting in summer, I also highly recommend adding at least a few days in the beautiful Italian Dolomites . You could rent a car in Venice and visit the mountains for a few days, continuing past Verona and Lake Garda and on to Milan. Here you can find some Dolomites itinerary suggestions a,d our guide on where to stay in the Dolomites .
• Tuscany is another area where you could easily add a few extra days. There are so many beautiful places to see! See our Tuscany itinerary for some additional inspiration for the best Tuscan towns .
• Bologna , one of the foodie destinations in Italy, is another nice addition to any Italy itinerary. You could just visit for a day from Florence, or spend several days here as well. Also Rimini , Ravenna , and San Marino are all worth a visit. See our Emilia Romagna itinerary for more information about these places.

…. I could go on and on. As you can see, there’s plenty to see in Italy to fill another few weeks or months. And once you visit this incredible country, you’ll definitely want to come back and explore more.

But for your first trip, this is a very complete itinerary that shows you the best of Italy in two weeks .

Yes, this itinerary is quite packed and yes, you’ll probably want to stay longer at many places you visit. But it gives you an amazing overview of what Italy is about, and you can always plan a repeat trip to the areas that you liked the most. You can also find a lot more travel inspiration in our Italy travel guide .

READ ALSO: Italian Food – traditional dishes to try in every region

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Tuesday 5th of March 2024

Please offer your ideas and suggestions for a 1-week trip to Italy in May 2024. We only have a short time to visit so any guidance to enjoy Italy in a few days will be so helpful!

Thursday 7th of March 2024

Hi Shannah, there are so many options, so pick the places that interest you the most. And don't overdo it in terms of too many different locations. With a week in Italy and if it's your first trip, you could visit Rome (2-3 days + potentially a day trip to Pompeii/Amalfi e.g. like this), Florence (1 day in the city and one day trip, e.g. to Tuscan towns like this or to Cinque Terre - see this tour), and Venice (1-2 days). Of course, you can just visit one specific region, but there are literally thousands of options, so you have to see what interests you the most. Hope this helps. For more details about all these places, please see our article above.

Monday 26th of February 2024

We are to Italy/Switzerland for 3 weeks in August. We are starting in Switzerland for a week then two weeks in Italy starting with Milan and working our way down as far south as the Amalfi Coast. We are a bit stressed because we finally booked our flights and then read that August is the worst time to travel to Italy due to the weather, horrendous crowds and Italy national holiday starting August 15 when Italians and other Europeans go to the coastal cities (where we wanted to end our trip) an overcrowd those areas.

Do you have any tips on places to go to make an August trip most enjoyable? We prefer some areas that are beautiful, nice to stroll around, eat and see some sights, but don't have to go to all the main tourist attractions. We'd love some suggestions that help us get off the beaten path vs. all the main highlights. I've been to Venice, Florence, Rome once before and my husband has not been at all, but doesn't care too much about all the 'must sees' besides Rome. We plan to leave from Rome airport, but want to try to make it further south to Amalfi coast first.

Any suggestions would be super helpful!

Tuesday 27th of February 2024

Hi Erica, I'm afraid that what you read is correct. Italy can be crazy busy in August, especially in coastal areas. That being said, the cities are usually deserted (=locals are gone), but places like Rome are full of tourists so you won't be alone. The best way to avoid the biggest crowds is to skip the most popular seaside destinations. Amalfi Coast, Italian Riviera, Cinque Terre, Capri, Rimini, etc. will be crowded at that time of the year. But if you book accommodations in advance and plan your sightseeing activities in the mornings, it could be manageable. Of you visit places like e.g. Amalfi Coast, you will have to pre-book everything, not just hotels and excursions, but also restaurants. If you go more inland and stay in smaller villages, you can have a perfectly enjoyable trip. A few years ago, we were in Tuscany in the second half of August and it was great. But we started our days early, did most of the sightseeing in the mornings, and when it started to get busy everywhere, went back to our accommodation and spent the warmest hours by the pool. In the evenings, we usually visited smaller towns, but it was really busy everywhere, parking was not easy, etc. So you need more patience, especially if you go to the main tourist hotspots. Take a look at these articles for some additional tips: Amalfi Coast Travel Tips (don't rent a car here!!!) Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast Where to Stay in Capri Rome Travel Tips Lake Como Travel Tips If you like nature, consider spending some time in the Italian Dolomites. It will also be very busy, but different than at the sea. Also there, top places and most popular hikes will be crowded, so start your days early. Or avoid the top places and you can have a very enjoyable visit. The nearby Trentino region is much quieter, but it's popular with locals = August is the peak season. You can find some inspiration in this article - most activities are definitely not just for kids. Having said all this, when you travel somewhere from the other side of the world, it's just normal that you want to see the top spots. The best tip I can give you is to try to get a bit off the beaten path in addition to the top places, AND book as much as possible in advance. Good luck and enjoy your trip. Italy is always a good idea and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

Sunday 22nd of October 2023

Hello Jurga,

A great article to read through! Me, the wife and two kids (11 and 14) are planning a trip through Italy next Summer. He have 6 weeks off for summer, so we're looking at a 2-3 week trip through Italy probably. With the kids I don't want to be rushing so do you recommend staying longer in some of these locations? More hotels don't phase us.

Monday 23rd of October 2023

Hi Matthew, so much depends on your interests! With the kids in the summer, you may want to spend some more time in the nature rather than sightseeing in big cities. So you could add Italian Dolomites to your itinerary. Also, you could spend more time at the Naples/Capri/Amalfi Coast and/or Italian Riviera (around Cinque Terre). Also places like Lake Garda and Lake Como offer a great mix of nature, sightseeing, and some relaxing time by the pool. There are so many options. That's why it's really difficult to help our readers with specific itineraries. Pick the places that interest you the most, plan a few longer stays once in a while so that you can all wind down and relax a bit, and realize that whatever you do, there is no way you can see everything in Italy in 3 or even 6 weeks. You'll want to go back ;). Good luck with the choices!

Madonna Hanes

Thursday 19th of October 2023

I'm thinking of coming out to Italy for 10 days, 2 days for flights, and 8 days for touring Italy. What do you recommend and where? Thanks advance.

I was thinking September.

Hi Madonna, so much depends on your interests and on the season when you travel and - as you can probably imagine - the possibilities are endless. But if it's your first trip to Italy and you want to see 'the musts', then I'd probably concentrate on the main cities - Rome (3 days), Florence (3 days), and Venice (2 days). In Rome, I'd probably just stay in the city - there's a lot to see. Take a look at this itinerary for some ideas. In Florence, take a look at these suggestions on what to do in a day. In addition, you can always take one or two day trips from Florence like this day trip that visits Siena, Pisa, and Tuscan countryside, and/or a day tour to Cinque Terre. In Venice, see this itinerary. In addition, you could take a (half)day trip to the nearby islands. Hope this helps.

Friday 11th of August 2023

Hello, Jurga. Your article is an absolute gem!!! I learned so much from it. I am planning a trip to Italy and i was going to follow your itinerary but we are only going for 12 days not 14. What do you recommend skipping? Thank you in advance

Hi Maya, that's a tough one since there is so much to see. You also didn't say when you are traveling. For example, in the winter you could skip some of the coastal areas/nature (e.g. Amalfi Coast from Rome on day 4, Tuscan countryside or Cinque Terre (days 5-6), or Lake Garda and Lake Como (days 11 and 14). In the warm season, the choice is much more difficult. Just see what interests you less and let it go. There is no way to see everything in Italy in 3-4 weeks, let alone 12 days, so you always have to make choices. Good luck!

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Two Weeks in Italy: A Complete Guide for First Timers

There’s a good reason why Italy tops the bucket list of countless travelers. It has a unique historical significance (even though Italy itself is actually one of the youngest countries in Europe) thanks to the Roman Empire’s escapades, it has a famous food culture (not to mention the wine), and it has gorgeous scenery.

Italy has spent hundreds of years building its brand which has millions of people dreaming of visiting Italy. 

But as we’ve learned over the course of our time in Italy over the past two years (almost two months in total), boiling the entirety of Italy down to just a handful of things it’s famous for means that you’re missing the things that really make Italy special.

Coming from an American perspective, we have a very specific view of what it means to be “Italian” that involves numerous stereotypes including some combination of chicken parmigiana, garlic bread, and talking with your hands (in our experience, only one of those is genuinely found in Italy – which one is it?).

However, after several trips where we’ve been able to go a level deeper than you usually do on that first trip, we’ve come to realize something important. 

Italy is a surprisingly diverse country. 

Not necessarily in terms of race or ethnicity, which is how the word “diversity” often gets translated, but in terms of regional differences that have been formed over thousands of years.  

The regional differences in culture, dialect, and cuisine that come from centuries spent as independent (and often warring) city states are what we love about Italy, and that diversity is what makes Italy a fascinating place to visit.

As you move between regions, you’ll notice that the food and wine menus change drastically, as do the accents and cultural norms. 

With so much to learn, see, eat, and drink in Italy, how do you even go about planning a two week trip to Italy?

In this guide, we’re going to go through what is, in our minds at least, a perfect 14 day Italy itinerary.

It covers Italy’s major cities – Rome, Florence, and Venice – along with some time spent in less heralded places like Bologna that most tourists miss, but we believe is well worth a stop. 

This guide is geared towards first-timers who want to see those main cities, but we also have an entire section below the main itinerary full of ideas on how to modify it, which you might find useful if you’ve done the whole Venice thing before and are looking for something new.

Either way, grab a cup of coffee (or a spritz?) and buckle in for a long one – here’s exactly (and we mean that) how we’d spend two weeks in Italy. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

Is 14 Days Enough Time in Italy?

In short, no. Definitely not. However, we do think it’s a good amount of time to see a chunk of the country that will give you a nice overview and help you decide where you want to dive deeper on your next trip.

In this itinerary – which is primarily designed for first timers – we’re going to cover both the main cities (Rome, Florence, and Venice) and some of our favorite places that don’t usually make the list (Bologna and Verona).

P.S. If you have a shorter trip, make sure to check out our guide to 10 days in Italy , which focuses on Rome, Florence (and the surrounding area), and Venice, or our guide to spending a week in Italy , which has five ideas for a week in Italy that you can mix and match to build your own itinerary.

There are two places that you won’t find in this itinerary for various reasons.

First is southern Italy – specifically Napoli, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast.

The reason is not that they aren’t beautiful or worth seeing, but that we think your time is better spent in northern Italy, which is our favorite part of the country.

Getting between Napoli and northern Italy is going to take a lot of time that would be better spent exploring!

The second place is the Cinque Terre , and it’s for a similar reason. The Cinque Terre is gorgeous. But it’s not particularly easy to get to.

You’ll need to make multiple connections from Florence, and it’s going to take about three hours each way.

If you do want to add the Cinque Terre, you’ll need at least two full days. We have some ideas on how to add it below the main itinerary.

If you’re interested in visiting Cinque Terre, make sure to read our guides for Cinque Terre.

• The Best Things to Do in Cinque Terre: A Complete Guide
• How to Plan an Amazing 2 Day Cinque Terre Itinerary
• Where to Stay in Cinque Terre: The 4 Best Places to Stay (with Pros and Cons for Each)

Where to Fly In and Out Of?

If you follow the itinerary below as written, which takes you on a tour-de-Italy from Rome to Venice, you’ll want to fly into Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) and out of Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) .

An alternative would be to fly out of Milan (either LIN or MXP – we like LIN better because it’s closer to the city and a newer airport), which generally has more flight options than Venice, but it requires an extra day or two and a train.

Getting Around Italy

The best way to get around Italy is by train. At least for your purposes on the itinerary below It’s going to be cheaper, faster (once you include travel time and security at the airport), and better for the planet than hopping on a short flight.

There are a few things you should know about trains in Italy before we get any further.

First, there are (essentially) two types of trains in Italy – high speed and regional – and they operate differently.

High speed trains are more expensive, significantly faster, and less flexible. To save time since you’ve only got a limited amount of it in Italy, you’ll want to take the high speed trains between cities.

You’ll want to book your ticket as far in advance as possible, which usually will save you some money, but will be less flexible. If you want the flexibility, you’ll have to be prepared to pay a little extra.

Regional trains are slower, cheaper, and more flexible. They’re usually for connecting nearby smaller cities to each other (for example, there’s a regional train between Florence and Pisa).

You can buy these tickets when you arrive at the station, and they’re more flexible. You need to make sure you validate them before boarding.

The best way to book train tickets in Italy is directly through Trenitalia , the company that runs most of the trains in Italy. The only downside is that you’ll need to know the name of the station you want to travel to in Italian. 

We’d take high speed trains between Rome and Florence, Florence and Bologna, Bologna and Verona, and Verona and Venice . For day trips from Florence and Bologna, regional trains will do.

The Itinerary / Route

And now, the itinerary for spending two weeks in Italy. 

One quick note : In general, when you’re moving between cities, we’d recommend taking an afternoon train, which will give you some extra time to explore the city you’re leaving in the morning before heading to the train station.

Here’s how we would plan a trip to see the best of Italy in two weeks, starting in Rome and ending in Venice: 

• Day 1: Arrive in Rome
• Day 2: Rome
• Day 3: Rome
• Day 4: Rome + Train to Florence
• Day 5: Florence
• Day 6: Florence
• Day 7: Florence Day Trip
• Day 8: Train to Bologna
• Day 9: Bologna
• Day 10: Day Trip to Verona
• Day 11: Train to Venice
• Day 12: Venice
• Day 13: Venice
• Day 14: Venice + Fly Home

You’ll notice a couple of different things about the way we’ve structured this itinerary.

First , we’re big fans of spending at least 2-3 days in big cities to avoid feeling like you’re rushing around from sight to sight. That will give you some time to do some exploring to find a new favorite neighborhood, coffee shop, wine bar, or restaurant.

Second , we hate packing and moving accommodations. It sucks. Which is the reason we’re recommending you stay in a place like Florence or Bologna and use it as a home base for exploring the surrounding area.

Third , we’ve included a significant chunk of time in Bologna. Which is our favorite city in Italy not named Rome or Florence (Lucca and Verona are also in the running). 

Here’s why: Bologna is the capital of the best food region in Italy , home to the production of delicious things like Parmesan-Reggiano cheese (we LOVED touring a small producer of Parmigiano-Reggiano with Claudio on this tour ), prosciutto di Parma, mortadella, balsamic vinegar, Lambrusco (a sparkling red wine), tortellini, ragu, and plenty more. 

Not only is the food incredible, but the city – which feels noticeably younger and less “touristy” than most of the cities here – is a nice change of pace from places like Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Bologna also makes an excellent home base for day trips because it is so well connected.

Whatever you do, we’d implore you NOT to cut Bologna. It’s an amazing city, and you won’t regret spending a day or two there.

Fourth, it might seem like a lot of time in Venice at the end. However, it’s really only two and a half days if you take a midday train there, and have an early flight home.

If you have a full 14 days (you’re flying out on day 15, for example), we’d add an extra day either in Florence to do another day trip, or in Rome.

2 Weeks in Italy: A Perfect 14 Day Italy Itinerary for First Timers

And now, on to the detailed itinerary. 

Our intention here is to give you the information we think you need to know to plan an amazing trip to Italy.

We’ll go a little deeper than a short description of each place, giving you some of our favorite things to do, see, eat, and drink that come from our own experiences exploring Italy (and, equally crucially, what not to do – looking at you, Juliet’s House in Verona!). 

We believe those details – like specific wine bars, tours, and coffee shops we loved – are the difference between a good trip and an incredible trip, and hope you’ll find a few places that you wouldn’t have necessarily found on your own. 

The other intention here is to not just give you the same old itinerary that you’ll see in every guidebook.

Of course, we’re going to include Rome, Florence, and Venice, because those are places that are absolutely worth seeing on your first trip to Italy. 

However, we’re also going to include some of our favorite places (like Bologna) that don’t usually make the cut. Rick Steves (who Matt loves – he’s from Seattle too!) doesn’t even include Bologna in his Italy guidebook! What a miss.  

Rome: Days 1-3

I mean, if you’ve never been to Rome before, you’re in for a treat. Rome is one of our favorite cities in Europe, and there’s something special about walking past architecture from over a thousand years ago on your way to a hip natural wine bar in the evening. 

While Rome is famous for its historical sights, it’s also a great city for food and drinks (as we’ll cover below) and as I’m sitting here writing this, I literally made a Roman pasta dish (amatriciana) for dinner last night. 

We’d recommend three days in Rome, at a minimum, which will allow you enough time to see both of the main attractions, dive into the history of Italy’s capital city, and also indulge in some of Rome’s great food and drinks. 

What to Do in Rome

Look, there are two main attractions in Rome that, if it’s your first trip, you probably shouldn’t miss. 

They are, of course, the Vatican and the Colosseum and Roman Forum . They’re popular and “touristy,” but being touristy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not worth doing. 

However, you should absolutely split them up and avoid doing them on the same day . It will simply be too much information if you try to knock them both out on the same day, and you will be exhausted, which means you won’t get the most out of them.

Do them on different days. Trust us. 

Let’s talk about those two first. However, this is going to be relatively brief.

For a more in-depth version of how we think you should experience them, head over to our guides to the best things to do in Rome , our guide to planning your Rome itinerary, and our review of the Colosseum and Forum tour we did (and, spoiler alert, loved). 

The Colosseum and Roman Forum are perhaps the best example in Rome of the grandeur that the Roman Empire was able to create nearly two millennia ago.

The Colosseum, in particular, is an architectural marvel to us.

The Forum is mostly just stones strewn about at this point, so it’s harder to visualize what it looked like roughly two thousand years ago at the height of Rome’s power. 

Which brings us to an important point: you should definitely do a guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum .  

We have a strong opinion here, mostly informed by the fact that we did an amazing tour of the Colosseum with our favorite Italian tour company (you can read all about it here ) where we learned that some (really, most) of the things we thought we knew about the Colosseum were actually just fairy tales. 

We have personally done (and enjoyed) TakeWalks’ Skip the Line: Premium Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill – you can read about our experience here (spoiler: we loved it!). It is a great tour option that includes both the Colosseum and Forum.

Before or after your visit, there’s an excellent view of the Roman Forum from OUTSIDE the boundaries located here .

The Vatican is basically one of the greatest art museums on the planet. Sure, there’s St. Peter’s Basilica, but even that is very much about the art (which at the end of the day is just a way to show that you have money and power).

The Sistine Chapel, in particular, is incredibly moving, especially when you consider how long it took to finish, and how Michaelangelo had to paint it facing the ceiling. 

It’s worth a tour of the Vatican too, if you can afford it. We’d do the “Pristine Sistine” early access tour with Take Walks, which includes early access.

We haven’t done that specific tour ourselves, but we’ve done four separate Take Walks tours now, and all have been excellent because the guides are top notch experts in their fields. 

If you can only do one tour, we’d do the Colosseum and Forum because the added context and historical perspective from a guide is more useful when you’re looking at ruins. 

Since we’ve already rambled so much in this section, here’s a quick hit list of other things to do in Rome. 

The view from the Orange Garden (Giardino degli Aranci) . This is one of our favorite views in the city, and we’re not alone. Head up here around sunset for a treat, but it’s equally gorgeous in the early morning hours (perhaps better, because the sun is generally behind you), and there are far fewer people.

Trastevere in the evening . Our favorite neighborhood in Rome is Trastevere, and it’s not that close. It’s nice in the morning, especially if you visit the open air market that takes place at Piazza de’ Renzi, but the evening is when it comes alive. People spill out of the bars and restaurants into the streets, and the piazzas are full of people drinking and being merry. 

Wine! Enoteca il Piccolo in the Centro Storico ( here it is on Google Maps) is as great as it is popular. The owner came out to the terrace where I tried to explain in my bad Italian what kind of wine I wanted (dry white), and he walked away without a word, and returned with two excellent glasses of exactly what I asked for. If you’re looking for a bottle, Les Vignerons in Trastevere is the place to go (great beer and cider selection, too!). 

Roman cuisine . First, we make the four Roman pastas at home (carbonara, gricia, amatriciana, and cacio e pepe) all the time. Roman food is generally very simple, but delicious. The best way to learn about Roman food is taking a food tour with a local guide, where you’ll not only taste some delicious food, but learn about the history and context behind that food. Which is our favorite part about learning about food cultures of different places. We’d do this tour , which looks truly spectacular and includes a lot of cultural context along with tons of tastings. 

If you’re into good coffee, head straight to Pergamino Caffè near the Vatican, which is home to some of the best baristas in Rome who bring in a bunch of different Italian specialty coffee roasters to brew for you.

It’s my, Matt the coffee snob’s, favorite coffee in Rome. 

Of course, there are tons of other things in the Eternal City that are worth doing, seeing, and eating. For more, head over to our guide to the best things to do in Rome , which has a collection of our favorites. 

Where to Stay in Rome

While there are a bunch of areas you could stay in Rome, we have two strong recommendations for you to help you narrow it down.

We also have an entire, super detailed guide to where to stay in Rome if you want more details to make your decision.

Our overall recommendation is to stay in Trastevere , which is far and away our favorite part of the city.

We stayed there on our last trip, and it’s magical.

It’s a great place to eat and drink, and it really comes alive when the sun goes down, full of lively piazzas and small bars and restaurants that fill up on a nightly basis and spill out into the cobblestone streets.

We stayed at Horti 14 Borgo , a small boutique hotel in Trastevere, and absolutely loved it.

It’s a splurge compared to where we normally stay, but the stylish rooms, comfortable beds, and incredible breakfast buffet were worth it. 

A more affordable (but equally highly rated) option would be Ripagrande a Trastevere , which is essentially right on the River Tiber and within five minutes of everything in Trastevere. 

The only downside to Trastevere is the fact that it’s a little far from the train station, which doesn’t matter as much with three days, but is a little less convenient (you’ll need to take a taxi, most likely).

Which brings us to our second recommendation, which is Rome’s Historic Center (the Centro Storico). 

Stay here if you want to be right in the middle of all the action, within walking distance to just about everything in the city.

It’s the most convenient place to stay, though it will be crowded and potentially loud. Don’t miss an early morning walk from Piazza Navona to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps!

We stayed for five nights near Piazza Navona at these apartments , which were honestly a perfect location, especially if it’s your first time in Rome.

Coronari Palace and Casa Pietra are two hotels that were also on our list, though we decided we wanted more space and a kitchen for our time in Rome. 

Florence: Days 4-6

Historically, the city of Rome might be the crown jewel of the Roman Empire, but you could make a convincing argument that Florence is the second most important city in the history of the Italian peninsula because of its influence around the birth of the Renaissance. 

On a walking tour in Florence ( this one , which we recommend below because it’s a great introduction to the city), as we were walking through Piazza della Signoria, our guide made a point that I hadn’t really thought about before that moment. 

Florence was one of the richest cities in Europe (if not the world) in the 15th Century and through the Renaissance. 

A lot of people – myself included – might think that wealth came from the amazing art that was produced in Florence leading up to and during the Renaissance.

But the truth is that Florence was already a rich city thanks to silk production, and that wealth is what allowed it to become a cultural icon that thousands of people still flock to five centuries later. 

Walking the streets of Florence, it’s easy to see why so many people fall head over heels in love with it on their visit.

It’s charming. The Duomo is incredible, both because of how imposing it is, and the fact that it’s an architectural miracle. There are two world class museums.

The food and wine are both excellent (definitely get the wild boar if you see it on a menu – pappardelle al cinghiale – which was our favorite discovery on our Tuscany road trip itinerary ). 

I could go on and on about Florence – I’ve spent over a week in Florence between two trips in the past year (at the time of writing) – but let’s leave it there and get into how to make the most of your time in the Tuscan capital. 

In this itinerary, we have you spending two and a half days in Florence itself, and then using it as a home base for a day trip into Tuscany. 

What to Do in Florence

There are two main attractions in Florence that you’ve likely heard of before, and both are well worth your time.

They are the Uffizi Gallery , which is a chronological journey through Renaissance art in Florence, and the Galleria dell’accademia , which is where you’ll find Michaelangelo’s David . 

However, you should definitely try to do them on different days , because it’s too much information to process in a single day.

Believe me, my mom and I tried to do both in a day in Florence on my latest trip to Italy, and it was too much. 

The other thing I would say – and again, I’m speaking from experience here having done both museums with and without a guide – is that you should invest in a guided tour with an art historian if you can .  

After some truly great experiences recently, I’ve decided that I probably won’t do a huge art gallery like the Uffizi or the Louvre without a guide ever again.

The guide is able to add so much in terms of color, context, and storytelling that will give you a deeper connection to just about any museum visit. 

Otherwise, we’d look at the art, say “yeah, that looks pretty,” and move on without really understanding the context behind what we’re looking at.

If you only have the budget for one, make sure to do the guided tour of the Uffizi, where your guide will be able to explain exactly what you’re looking at, and what it says about the changing nature of society and culture during the Renaissance.

We did this guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery , and it was fantastic. 

For what it’s worth, I (Matt) also did this guided tour of the Galleria dell’Accademia on my last visit with my mom, and we also really enjoyed it.

However, like I said above, if you only have time or budget for one tour, you’ll get more out of the Uffizi. 

For more information, including on how to visit both galleries independently , head over to our guides to the best things to do in Florence and our guide to planning your Florence itinerary .  

As we said above, we’d split those two museums up and do one on each of your two full days in Florence. Which, obviously, leaves you with some extra time. Here’s what we’d do with that time. 

Take Andrea’s walking tour . We’re huge fans of walking tours as a way to get an introduction to a new city and connect with a local for tips on what (and where) to eat, drink, and shop. And we loved Andrea’s walking tour , which is a two hour crash course in Florence’s rich history, with all the salacious details about the Medici family (they were essentially royalty in Florence during the 1500’s). He also has a more in-depth version of the tour that adds an hour and includes crossing the river to Oltrarno. 

Climb to Piazzale Michelangelo . On the other side of the river from Florence’s Centro Storico, you’ll find what is arguably the best view of the city at Piazzale Michelangelo. You’ll have a view of the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio (the only bridge in Florence that wasn’t destroyed in World War 2), the Duomo, and the rest of the city. It’s nice at sunset, but it’s busy. Early in the morning is even better, because the sun is behind you and there are basically no crowds. 

Climb Brunneleschi’s Dome . The Duomo in Florence is massive. The best way to experience it, in our opinion, is to climb to the top. Along the way, you’ll get a view of the interior of the dome and the (somewhat creepy) artwork decorating it, then you’ll climb through the area between the interior and exterior dome (which gives you perspective on how it was built 600 years ago, which is mind-boggling) up to the top, where you’ll have a 360-degree view out over Florence. Try to do it first thing in the morning for the fewest people, and book in advance here . 

Dive into Tuscany’s food and drink offerings . We’d strongly encourage you to skip the pizza in Florence, and instead indulge in some of the local specialties. We love Pappardelle al ragu di cinghiale (a pasta with a wild boar sauce that my mom fell in love with), pappa al pomodoro (tomato and bread soup), and the Schiacciata (sort of like a focaccia sandwich, but slightly different). We liked the food at Trattoria da Garibardi . Most of the Florentine cuisine pairs well with the Tuscan reds like Chianti Classico and Brunello, which are a couple of the more prestigious red wines to look for. 

Where to Stay in Florence

Similar to Rome above, we have two recommendations for where to stay in Florence .

Also similar to Rome, your choice is going to be between the coolest neighborhood (in our opinions, anyway) and the most convenient area.

Convenience matters a little more here because you will be taking a day trip, which means you’ll be going to and from the train station.

Our favorite area in Florence is Santa Croce / Sant’Ambrogio , which is a five minute walk east of the Duomo. It has the best food (we think), fewer tourists, and is close to everything in the city.

We stayed at Pietrapiana Boutique Apartments for almost a week, and it was everything we wanted and more: access to a kitchen, a little more space to spread out, a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle, and a comfortable place to sleep. Highly recommend! 

La Maison du Sage is another good option nearby – it’s more of a traditional hotel than serviced apartments.

The other option, which is best if you want to be super central to everything in Florence, is Florence’s Centro Storico , which is centered around the Piazza del Duomo and nearby Piazza della Signoria (home to the Uffizi Gallery).

It’s crowded, it’s loud, but it’s super convenient. It’s also closer to the train station for your day trip.

Day Trip from Florence (Choose Your Own Adventure): Day 7

Florence is the capital of Tuscany, which might be Italy’s most famous region for its wine and general dolce vita feeling. And, after spending a week in Tuscany, we can definitively say it delivers on both. 

Florence is an excellent base to explore Tuscany from, with most of the highlights accessible within 90 minutes by train. However, the main issue with Tuscany is that you really need a car to be able to see certain things properly.

Here are the three day trips from Florence we’d recommend, and which one you choose totally depends on what you’re interested in. 

If you’re looking to combine San Gimignano, Chianti, and Siena into one day, it’s going to be a long day, but this tour with Take Walks (which, as we’ve already mentioned a few times in this guide, is one of our favorite tour companies on earth), covers San Gimignano, Chianti, and Siena in one action-packed 10 hour day. 

Day Trip 1: Siena for the Cathedral (and the History) 

Siena is a popular day trip from Florence, and it’s a 90 minute train ride south in the heart of Tuscany.

There is, perhaps, no better example of a classic hilltop town than Siena, which is a red city perched on a hill overlooking a lush green valley. 

The cathedral in Siena is incredible, and we say that as people who usually don’t get all that excited about massive opulent churches.

The iconic dark green and white stripes of Siena’s Duomo are just the beginning of what makes it special.

The interior is where the real fun begins, particularly if you’re around when the floors are uncovered (usually in the summer), and the intricate art and tilework on the floors is on full display. 

We recommend climbing up to the Facciatone, which is a viewpoint inside the Museo del Duomo that has an excellent view of both the cathedral and the surrounding landscape. 

The other place not to miss in Siena is Piazza del Campo, which rivals Piazza Maggiore in Bologna (more on that in a second) as our favorite piazza in all of Italy. 

In terms of eating and drinking, head to Torrefazione Fiorella for a morning coffee at a stand-up bar (very Italian), Panificio Il Magnifico to try sweet Sienese specialties like ricciarelli, Du’ Cose Da Berna for traditional sandwiches at lunch (a recommendation from our friendly host at the agroturismo we stayed at outside of Siena), and Ristorante Gallo Nero , which was one of the best meals we had in Tuscany. 

How to get there : There are regional trains between Florence’s Santa Maria Novella (the main station in Florence) and Siena that take about an hour and a half. You can also take bus 131 (or the faster 131R) from the Florence bus station ( here on Google Maps – it’s right next to Santa Maria Novella), which is a similar amount of time. Both are very affordable options.  

Day Trip 2: Chianti for the Wine

Chianti is the place to go for wine. Chianti classico is the name of the game here, which is a Sangiovese-based red wine that follows strict production methods, and is one of the most famous wines that comes out of Italy.

If you don’t like red wine, I have some bad news for you – Tuscany is all about the red wines (except for vernaccia, which is a white wine that comes from San Gimignano!). 

Assuming you don’t have a car, your only option here is to do an organized tour because doing a self-guided tour of Chianti wineries would require both a rental car and a designated driver. 

In terms of guided tours, you have two options.

You can either choose a tour that goes deep on a single winery , usually including a cellar tour and detailed tasting (but you’ll have to make your way out to the winery), or a tour that takes you around to multiple wineries , which is going to be a little less personal, but give you more breadth where you’ll get to see multiple approaches AND usually includes transportation to and from Florence. 

We did this tour of a tiny organic winery and olive farm at the northern end of Chianti, and we loved it.

It was very personal and intimate, and we learned a ton about growing grapes (and olives) in Chianti.

We’d highly recommend it, and the nice part is that it’s easily accessible from Florence (and the hosts will help you figure out how to get there, including a bus station pickup). 

In terms of the other option where you get to visit multiple wineries with transportation to and from Florence, this is a highly rated tour with a sommelier that we considered.

You’ll get to visit three wineries, which are all closed for public visits, which is a good sign that it’s a unique experience because the host clearly has relationships with those specific wineries. 

If you want to see more of Chianti, including the super charming Badia a Passignano, we’d go with this tour . 

Day Trip 3: Lucca For the Views

You might have been expecting to see Pisa somewhere on this list of day trips from Florence, and we’re here to tell you that while, yes, the leaning tower is kind of cool, we would absolutely recommend skipping Pisa (which is crowded beyond belief with people wanting to see the aforementioned leaning tower) and heading to Lucca instead. 

There are a couple of reasons we love Lucca. 

First, the medieval walls are still intact, encircling the entire city. It’s well worth walking the full loop, where you’ll get some nice views of the city and the mountains beyond. 

Second is the tower. Climbing the Guinigi Tower will take you up to what might just be our favorite view in all of Italy.

On a day trip to Lucca, we’d spend your time walking the city walls, climbing the tower, and indulging in some Luccan cuisine for lunch (at Trattoria L’ Angolo Tondo , which is right on the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro where a Roman amphitheater used to be), which is slightly different than the food you’ll find in Florence because of its proximity to the coast, which means more fresh seafood. 

How to get there : There are regional trains between Florence’s Santa Maria Novella (the main station in Florence) and Lucca that take about an hour and a half. They come frequently, and they’re super affordable. 

Bologna: Days 8 & 9

You’re probably a little bit surprised to see Bologna on this itinerary, since it’s not exactly known as one of the “must-see” cities in Italy. However, we’re here to tell you that it absolutely should be on your list, particularly if you love food. 

One of the most interesting parts about traveling to Italy is having our expectations about “Italian” food completely shattered.

Here in the US, Italian food (we now know that Italian–American food is an entirely separate thing) consists of heavy sauces with lots of garlic, garlic bread, and chicken parmigiana. 

The truth is that Italian food culture is vastly different from region to region, and depends a lot on the fresh ingredients available in close proximity.

For example, in Sicily , you’ll find tons of fresh seafood because you’re on an island and are perpetually near the coast. In Tuscany, it’s olives, wild boar, and sheep cheese (pecorino) because those are the ingredients that are readily available. 

If you made us choose our favorite Italian food region, we’d choose Emilia-Romagna, which is where you’ll find Bologna. 

Here’s an exercise: write down your five favorite Italian ingredients (rather than dishes). If you’re anything like us, at least one of the things you wrote down comes from Bologna’s region, Emilia-Romagna. 

There’s a reason the city is known as “La Grassa” (“the fat one”). It’s about as close to heaven for foodies as you can get. 

There are, of course, other things we really like about Bologna. It’s a city of towers that overlook the distinctive red brick buildings (most of them are facades, though).

It’s a University town (one of its other nicknames is “La Dotta” which means “the learned one”) and it has a distinctly younger vibe than just about any other major city in Italy. There are far fewer tourists than any other city you’ll visit.

And it’s well connected to just about every corner of Italy. 

We think you should spend three nights in Bologna, using one of those nights to do a day trip up to Verona, which is another one of our favorite cities in Italy. 

What to Do in Bologna

Here are a few of our favorite things to do in Bologna. For more, head over to our guide to spending a day in Bologna . 

Climb the Asinelli Tower for Excellent Views . We have friends that live in Bologna, and when we visited them on our first ever visit to Bologna, this was the first thing they did with us. It’s a big climb, but you’ll eventually end up on the top of the taller of the Due Torre (“the two towers”), where you’ll have a commanding view out over Bologna. Book here in advance for a timeslot. 

Eat your heart out . Mortadella and filled pastas like tortelloni come from Bologna, but the broader region is home to just about every delicious food we associate with Italy. Parmesan, balsamic vinegar, prosciutto di Parma, lambrusco, and ragu alla bolognese. Go to any of the places in Quadrilatero, which is right off of Piazza Maggiore, to taste and shop. Specifically, we like Tamburini for tagliere (a plate of meats and cheeses) and a glass of wine (lambrusco!), Cremeria la Vecchia Stalla for excellent ice cream (which is NOT the same as gelato), and Vineria Favalli for their excellent Italian wine list.

Take a food tour with a local guide . While you can absolutely get a sense for Bologna’s food offerings on your own, a food tour is going to be the best way to dive a little deeper. This food tour in Bologna was on our list, but after learning they couldn’t accommodate gluten free diets (which, by the way, makes total sense), we decided to skip it. 

Take in Piazza Maggiore and Basilica di San Petronio . Piazza Maggiure is the beating heart of Bologna, and one of Italy’s best piazzas in our opinion (as we noted above, Siena’s Piazza del Campo is a close second). There are events nearly every afternoon and evening, from rallies to concerts, and even when there isn’t an official event, you’ll find some of Bologna’s best musicians out on the square (along with a crowd of admirers). The church is worth going into, but it’s only half finished after they tried to make it outshine the Vatican, who said “you can’t do that.” That’s why part of the church’s facade is exposed brick, which is the unfinished portion, while the other part is covered in marble.  

Make the climb to Santuario Madonna di San Luca . Bologna is known for porticoes, which are essentially just covered walkways, and you can walk through the 666 (someone has a sense of humor) to get up to this church on the hill. For what it’s worth, this the #1 recommendation from our friends that live in Bologna. 

Where to Stay in Bologna

There’s no doubt in our minds – you should stay near Piazza Maggiore while you’re in Bologna . It’s the beating heart of the city, and it’s going to be both the most convenient and the coolest place to stay.

I spent a few days in Bologna solo on my last trip to Italy, and stayed at Bibliò Rooms and Guesthouse . It’s essentially a small B&B that takes up one floor on a residential building about five minutes from Piazza Maggiore.

The rooms are fairly spacious with comfortable beds and private bathrooms, and it’s a good home base for a few nights in Bologna. 

I also stayed at the Social Hub in Bologna , which is a hip, young-feeling hotel in Bolognina up near Bologna Centrale.

While the location is further away from Bologna’s main attractions, it is a gorgeous hotel with all sorts of great amenities (a pool, a nice gym, a bar, an events calendar, and ping pong, to name a few). Plus, it’s about five minutes on foot from the train station, so it’s convenient in that sense. 

If you’re looking for an apartment, look at Canonica Suites , which is where I kind of wish we had stayed. 

We have an entire guide dedicated to helping you figure out where to stay in Bologna with FAR more detail, if you want more of an in-depth look at your options.

Day Trip to Verona: Day 10

On this day, we’d highly recommend leaving your stuff in Bologna and doing a day trip up to Verona, heading back to spend the night in Bologna.

Verona is famous for being the setting for Romeo and Juliet, but it tied with Bologna for our favorite discovery in Italy when we spent six weeks exploring Italy in 2021. 

You might be wondering why we’d do it this way, considering Verona is sort of on the way to Venice (the next stop in this itinerary).

The reason is that we don’t want you to have to worry about juggling your bags, and instead focus on getting an early train from Bologna without the worry of check in times and baggage storage. 

Take the high speed train, which takes about 45 minutes or so (book in advance for cheaper tickets!). 

Rather than go into the details of what to do and see with a day trip up to Verona, we’re going to direct you to a separate blog post where we go through exactly that. Here’s how we’d spend a day in Verona . 

Venice: Days 11-14

Venice is a place that we have mixed feelings about. We’ve both been to Venice, and as we’ve thought about it, we’re truly not sure if we need to go again. 

It’s true that Venice is the best-preserved example of a canal city in Italy, but it’s also true that it’s a beautiful disaster.

There are way, way too many people trying to see Venice for the infrastructure to handle, and cruise ships are a big part of the issue, with huge tour groups coming in for part of a day and contributing very little to the local economy while stressing Venice’s infrastructure. 

Remember in 2020 when the canals were all of a sudden empty and pristine, and the swans came back to Venice? It’s safe to say that’s over now. 

However, it’s not really fair to say that you shouldn’t get to see Venice because too many people go there. 

Instead, we’d recommend that you do go to Venice, but be deliberate about how you do it.

Spend multiple days there so you’re not stressed about the crowds and whether or not you’ll be able to do everything. Eat at local restaurants, and stay in Venice so that your money stays in the local economy. 

The best way to explore Venice is not to spend a day (or less) seeing the main sights and calling it a day.

Venice is at its best in the early morning and evening, when it’s notably less crowded. If you only spend a day in Venice, you’re likely going to miss out on that precious time spent exploring during those hours. 

That’s why we’d strongly recommend two and a half days in Venice, which gives you a couple of mornings and nights to really soak up the atmosphere of Venice when it’s not packed wall-to-wall with people. 

What to Do in Venice

There are a few main sights in Venice that you shouldn’t miss, and two days is more than enough time to see them. Like we said above, part of the fun of exploring Venice is wandering the canals in the early morning and evening. 

Piazza San Marco is the main piazza in Venice, and there are a couple of main sights right on the square. 

First is the Doge’s Palace , which is a big Gothic building (you know because of the pointed arches) on the lagoon. Over its long history, it served as a fort, a prison, and a residence for the most powerful person in Venice, the Doge. 

The version you see today was built in the 1100’s, and has been renovated a few times since as the needs of its inhabitants changed.

It housed the Doge of Venice (sort of like a Duke, but not quite the same) during the Republic of Venice, which lasted for more than 1,000 years starting in the 8th Century and was one of the most powerful city-states in modern day Italy for long stretches because of its position on the water.

The best part about the Doge’s Palace is that it’s an excellent place to learn about Venice’s history. For example, I had no idea that there was a Republic of Venice, let alone how powerful they were.  

You can buy your tickets in advance here . 

The second major attraction on San Marco Square is the church, St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), which is the biggest church in Venice.

In a surprising (to no one) twist, the church is attached to the Doge’s Palace, showing the relationship between secular and religious power in Venice over the centuries. It’s set on the site of two older churches, which is a story that you hear over and over again at some of Italy’s biggest and most important churches.

Also similar to other churches in Italy, it was built over such a long stretch of time that it’s one big mish mash of architectural styles and art periods. 

It’s an impressive building from the outside, and the interior is special because of the mosaics that cover just about every surface. The Pala d’Oro, which is essentially a big golden altarpiece from the Byzantines, is also pretty cool. 

Information on tickets and opening hours here . 

If you want to see both with a guided tour, we’d (again) recommend doing the St. Mark’s and Doge’s Palace tour with Take Walks , who we’ve done multiple tours with in multiple Italian cities, and love. It’s three hours long, includes both the church and the palace, and will take you a level deeper than just visiting by yourself. 

The islands to the north of Venice – namely Burano and Murano – are well worth a visit, and the vast majority of visitors don’t make it out there.

These tiny islands are known for glassblowing, and they’re relatively easy to reach via water taxi from Venice. From this ferry terminal, it’s a quick 20 minute ride over to Murano, the closer of the two islands (it’s a significantly longer boat ride out to Burano). 

You can read more about what to do in Venice in our guide to spending 2 days in Venice . 

What to Do with More Time in Italy

If you’re blessed with more than 14 days in Italy, we have (lots of) thoughts on what to do with extra time. Whether it’s one or two days or a full extra week, we have ideas for you based on our own explorations. 

Keep in mind that this isn’t an exhaustive list – we haven’t been everywhere in Italy, and it’s hard to recommend something we haven’t experienced ourselves.

For example, the Dolomites and Lake Como are on our list, but we didn’t include them below. Once we make it there, we’ll definitely add them!

You’ll notice that there’s one very popular destination missing from this list that you might be expecting to see: Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast.

We contemplated adding it because we know it’s a place that people have seen pictures of and want to visit, but we really wouldn’t do it ourselves due to insane crowds and associated overtourism. 

Just this last summer, we’ve seen about 30 pictures of friends on Instagram who all went to the Amalfi Coast within the same two month period. 

Which, when you take a second to think about it, is pretty crazy. 

We think there are better coastal destinations in Italy (like the Cinque Terre – which has its own over tourism issues – and Sicily ) that we’d recommend way before the Amalfi Coast. You’ll find both of those on the list below. 

Add Another Day Trip from Bologna 

The first thing we’d add if you only have an extra day or two is an extra night in Bologna to explore more of Emilia-Romagna.

Cities like Parma (famous for prosciutto and parmesan-reggiano) and Modena (famous for balsamic vinegar) are an easy train ride away, and are well worth your time. 

We’d highly recommend a day trip that starts with Claudio’s tour of a working parmesan-reggiano dairy, which of course includes a tasting of different ages of parmesan, and a vacuum packed chunk to bring home with you.

It was the highlight of our last trip, and Claudio is friendly, uber-charismatic, and an all around phenomenal host. 

That tour is a morning tour, going until roughly noon. 

We’d then spend the rest of the day in Modena, which is the capital of balsamic vinegar production and is an easy 20 minute ride from the train station in Reggio-Emilia (where you’ll get dropped off by Claudio). That’s what we did. 

We loved tasting small production balsamic vinegar at La Consorteria 1966 (you should know that the tasting costs money unless you buy a bottle afterwards, which are expensive because this is the good stuff). 

We also had multiple people recommend Osteria Francescana , which is a world-famous fine dining experience that you’ll need to book well in advance.

You can also try chef Massimo’s food at nearby Franceschetta58 , which is less expensive and more approachable (you still want a reservation, though!). 

Another great stop is the Mercato Storico Albinelli, which is Modena’s central market. 

Add Another Day Trip from Florence

The second thing we’d add is an additional day trip from Florence. We gave you three options above, and if you took our advice, you’ve already done one of them. Do a second (or third!) one if you have an extra day. 

Cinque Terre (2-3 Days)

For my mom’s 60 th birthday, we took her on a two week Italy trip. Her two must-do experiences were the Cinque Terre and seeing the Last Supper in Milan.

So, we spent a few days exploring the Cinque Terre, and we loved it.

However, we have a major caveat. We would absolutely NOT recommend a day trip to the Cinque Terre, which is what approximately 90% of people seemed to be doing.

The main reason is that it’s a long way from places like Florence and Milan, requiring three hours of travel time.

That means you won’t arrive until mid-morning, which is when all of the other day trippers arrive, and the streets and trails are packed wall-to-wall. It’s no wonder people say it’s too crowded!

The magic of the Cinque Terre is in the early morning and late evening, when the day trippers clear out and it becomes a tranquil, slow paced coastal retreat. That means you’ll need at least one night (two or more is better).

The Cinque Terre, which literally means “Five Towns,” is a series of charming towns tucked between the mountains and the coast in northern Italy.

It’s known for hiking, terraced vineyards, and colorful towns perched on rocky outcroppings above the sea.

You’ll definitely want to hike a section of the Blue Trail (we like the one from Corniglia to Vernazza the most), dive into the wines of Cinque Terre, take in some excellent sunset views, and explore all five towns.

We have a bunch of guides dedicated to helping you plan your Cinque Terre trip. Here are some links for you:

Milan (2 Days)

Milan is a really great city that offers something a little different from other major cities like Rome and Florence.

That’s not to say that it’s not a historic city, but it feels less “Italian” than Rome and Florence mostly because it has been trading hands between the Spanish, French, Italians, and Austrians for centuries.

There is a difference that you’ll notice right off the bat, probably when you exit the train station.

It looks and feels more modern, which is mostly a function of the fact that it’s a major financial hub and home to just about every high end fashion company in the country.

There are two world-class attractions in Milan – the Duomo di Milano which took 600 years to complete and is a mishmash of different styles that somehow still works, and Da Vinci’s Last Supper .

However, it’s worth lingering for an extra day to explore some of Milan’s less famous attractions and the hip food and drink scene.

Wander Parco Sempione and pop into Castelo Sforza, and experience aperitivo in the Navigli District, which is home to some of Milan’s last exposed canals (it used to look like Venice!). 

Where to add it : You could either do Milan after Bologna (there’s a high speed train connecting the two), or after Venice (and fly out of Milan).

We have a bunch of guides dedicated to helping you plan a trip to Milan. Here are some links for you:

• One Day in Milan: The Best of Milan in a Day
• 2 Days in Milan: How to Plan An Incredible Milan Itinerary
• Where to Stay in Milan: A Complete Guide
• The Best Things to Do in Milan
• Where to Find the Best Specialty Coffee in Milan
• Gluten Free Milan: A Complete Guide for Celiacs

Sicily (7 Days)

If you have about a full week of extra time, we’d highly recommend exploring Sicily.

We love Sicily (Alysha’s family is from a small town in southeast Sicily), and spent three weeks on the island in the fall (which somehow was still not enough time). 

However, you should know that Sicily is massive, and it’s impossible to do the entire island in a week.

For that reason, we’d focus on southeastern Sicily (Catania, Mount Etna, and Syracuse) . Unfortunately, that means you’ll miss Palermo, which is an amazing city in northwestern Sicily.

The other reason to focus on southeastern Sicily is that you don’t need to rent a car. The corridor from Taormina to Syracuse is connected by a regional train line, which is something that can’t necessarily be said for the rest of the island.

To get there, you’ll need to fly. The best place to fly into is Catania (Catania–Fontanarossa Airport) .

Definitely don’t miss a day trip from Catania up to Mount Etna, which was among the highlights of our trip (you can read about it in our guide to the best things to do in Catania ) and a trip to the amphitheater in Taormina, which has a spectacular view.

Oh, and eat all of the pistachio and almond granitas you can. 

We have an entire guide dedicated to helping you plan a Sicily itinerary , which has a couple of ideas for how to spend 7 days on the island (P.S. we recently wrote a specific guide for spending 7 days in Sicily , which is even more helpful and specific in this context).

Where to add it : We’d add it after Venice, flying from Venice to Catania (which might require a connection) and flying home from Catania.

What to Do with Less Time in Italy

We’re not going to dive deep into how to spend less time in Italy, mostly because we’ve already done exactly that in some of our other guides. 

We have a guide to 10 days in Italy that’s geared towards first-timers that focuses on Rome, Florence, and Venice, and how to make the most out of your time in those places. 

We also have a guide to spending 7 days in Italy , which is a little different because it gives a bunch of different ways to do a weeklong trip to Italy. 

If you’re looking for ideas for a shorter trip, definitely read those. 

When to Visit Italy

Having spent some time in Italy over two consecutive fall seasons, I’m here to tell you that it’s absolutely my favorite time to be in Italy.

Summer is oppressive for two reasons. One, it’s sweltering. My first ever visit to Italy was late July in Rome, and it was miserable. Two, it’s simultaneously crowded and empty. Crowded with tourists, empty of locals (who all go on vacation in August). Not a great combination. It’s also very expensive, relatively speaking.

Fall is more moderate in both respects. By the end of fall – late October and November – it gets a little chilly, especially further north. But, all in all, September and October are an incredibly pleasant time to be in Italy.

Winter is going to be cooler and grayer, but significantly cheaper. The other thing to watch out for is things – bars, restaurants, shops, tours – closing, especially in smaller, more tourist-centric places like the Cinque Terre and beach towns in Sicily.

Spring is just a hair behind fall in terms of the best time to be in Italy, and anytime between Easter and the end of May would also be an excellent balance of weather and crowds. 

Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers.

Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up.

He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip.

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Delightfully Italy

The insider's Italy travel guide for independent travelers

Italy in two weeks: the perfect 14 days Italy travel itinerary

Discover Italy in 2 weeks. Visit classical destinations such as Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Rome, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi coast. 

Two weeks in Italy are probably the minimum time needed to give you a fair view and feeling about this wonderful country: you should be able to see many of Italy highlights and spend a decent time in each one of them.

This Italy in 2 weeks itinerary is based on my experience, personal tastes and on a tight 2 weeks schedule (reasonable days in brackets). I’m assuming you will purchase  an “open jaws” ticket (meaning: landing and departing in two different airports),  to save valuable time. A round trip would imply at least half a day more.

I tried to use train / public transportation as far as possible, and showed (in brackets) average transfer times.

However, you may wish to rent a car, especially to explore Tuscany at your own pace, and to discover beautiful hamlets off the beaten path. If this is the case, I recommend you have a look at   www.rentalcar.com , and book your car as early as possible , to ensure availability and to get the best rates. It’s an aggregator, and allows you to compare offers from the main car rental companies.

These are just ideas, with optimized logistics. Days to be spent in the different places can be modified based on your tastes and interests. Feel free to mix everything up, it’s your Italy in 2 weeks very personal trip!

Would you like some help on your Italian trip planning? Then have a look at my Italy Travel Consultant page!

Destination 1:   Venice  – (2-3 days)

Ferry Boat in Venice + a lot of walking (and maybe a romantic gondola ride  ). Of course Rialto, San Marco and Palazzo dei Dogi, but also fancy Museums like Punta della Dogana . If you are travelling with kids, have  a look at a  child oriented itinerary . On the third day visit Murano, Burano and Torcello (1 day, by ferry).

Venice main highlights, and especially San Marco church, suffer from very long queues. To skip the line and to know more about its masterpieces, a guided tour could be a clever option. Click here for a good San Marco guided tour .

Where to stay in Venice:

• The Foscari Palace : enjoy a room on the Canal Grande, just in front of Rialto market
• The Hotel Pausania : a charming hotel in the off the beaten path Dorsoduro Neighborhood.

Want more choice? Click here to find the best places to stay in Venice

Destination 2: Florence (1-2 days)

The length of your stay in Florence will depend on how much time you wantto dedicate to Florence Museums.

Key highlights are Uffizi, Michelangelo’s David (in Galleria dell’Accademia, the one in front of Palazzo Vecchio is a copy) , Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce, San Miniato, piazzale Michelangiolo, Via Tornabuoni, Palazzo Pitti, Boboli, Fiesole (20-30’ out of town). Have a look here for a one day walking itinerary. 

You may consider a guided tour, to better appreciate Florence history and culture. If you would be interested in taking a g uided tour, or to skip the line in the main museums , just follow the link.

Where to stay in Florence:

The Grand Hotel Cavour : lots of atmosphere and history for this fascinating hotel located between Santa Maria del Fiore and Palazzo Vecchio. The roof bar will seduce you with its fantastic views over the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral.

Want more choice? Click here to find the best places to stay in Florence

Destination 3:  Florence >> Pisa  (Lucca) >> Cinque Terre (1 day) .

It takes a little less than 3 hours to go by train from Florence to the Cinque Terre area, via Pisa. Lucca is half an hour from Pisa by train. If you decide to visit also Lucca, you could consider spending the night in one of the two towns (I personally prefer Lucca).

Destination 4:  Cinque Terre .

It’s worth spending 1-2 days at Cinque Terre, but should also visit Portofino and San Fruttuoso (convenient boat services/tour available). Sestri Levante, lovely little town located between Portofino and the Cinque Terre could be a good Base. Don’t use a car, parking is a nightmare. (2 days).

Destination 5: Cinque Terre – Siena / Tuscany country side .

Here you could consider renting a car,  to provide you with all the freedom you want to explore this fascinating countryside. Tuscany country side >>> Rome. Chianti, Monteriggioni, Siena, Montalcino, Val d’Orcia, Pienza, Montepulciano >>> Rome. (1-2 days, even more if you like the countryside and the good food).

This itinerary assumes you rent a car, by far my suggested option. In case you didn’t feel comfortable driving on Tuscany country roads, then you can use Florence as a hub and join Tuscany country side guided tours. Here are my recommended ones .

Where to stay in Tuscany: Monteriggioni (Siena)

• The Hotel Monteriggioni : a charming and romantic hotel, located in a fortified medieval village
• The Castel Pietraio , a true medieval castle, now four star hotel, to treat yourself like a king

Destination 6:   Rome (3-4 days or more) .

You don’t want to have a car in Rome; walk + hop on – hop off buses ( follow this link to reserve on line, no need to print the receipt ). Bicycles or scooters, if you dare, are fantastic solutions!  Spanish steps , Piazza Navona, Panteon, Fontana di Trevi, Campo dei Fiori, Old Ghetto,  Trastevere . St Peter (consider  climbing on the Cupola ) + Vatican Museum ( RESERVE! queues are terrible – click here if you wish to reserve your visit with Ticketbar ).

Mercati di Traiano, Fori Imperiali (including Orti Farnesiani), Colosseum, Palatino are unmissable destinations, and for this reason may be crowded. Purchasing the ticket in advance is a clever way to skip the line and to save time .

Don’t miss Trastevere + Isola Tiberina (very lively area in summer time, funny & crowded). Appia antica + Catacombs (best by bike, you can rent one in via Appia),  medieval Rome and its underground treasures .   If you are a running fanatic, don’t miss Villa Borghese and the awesome  Borghese Gallery .   Villa Adriana and Villa D’Este , both in Tivoli (30 km from Rome) make a pleasant day trip out of town .

Where to stay in Rome:

• The  Hotel la Lumiere , a delightful hotel hidden a few blocks away from the Spanish steps, in posh via Condotti. Great roof top, have your breakfast while admiring Rome century old roofs!

Want more choice? Click here to find the best places to stay in Rome

Destination 7: Rome >>Naples/Sorrento (2/3 days) .

You can sleep in Naples or, better, in Sorrento. Visit Pompei, Sorrento, Positano , Ravello, Capri. Naples is also worth a visit. You can use public transports: boat service between Sorrento and Positano is very convenient, while buses, especially to Ravello, could be extremely crowded (consider sharing a taxi with fellow travelers). Renting a car could be an option in high season, but car parks are very expensive (and driving on the costiera is an experience on its own!).

Looking for a hotel? Click here to find the best places to stay in Sorrento

For more info about Amalfi coast visit my posts: Capri: breathtaking Faraglioni and Natural Arch walking tour and Best of Amalfi coast

Enjoy your Italy in two weeks itinerary!

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27 Replies to “Italy in two weeks: the perfect 14 days Italy travel itinerary”

Thank you for the post and a wonderful blog! I am using your itinerary for our first trip to Italy.

Tks Phoenx, enjoy Italy!

I must state that yours is a very well written blog. We spent two weeks in Italy’16 and very much followed an itinerary similar to what you have proposed. However we added Milan as our flight out was from there. We did not include CT as we had read that cramming CT to a 2 week trip in Italy would have been rather hectic. We are middle aged and wanted to take things rather laid back. Mine was a complete DIY trip and I thought I should share my experience with other first- time would be travellers to Italy. So I have started a very hands- on kind of travel blog which is almost 75% complete.diytravelexperiences.wordpress.com. Glad if you can critique the same and hope that others will visit my blog and benefit. Regards. Dhiraj

Hi, nice blog. I particularly liked the hands on tips and the “myths about Italy”!

Hi grateful for visiting my blog and thanks a ton for your comments. Good luck. Regards. Dhiraj

Hi- we are taking our 2 boys in 2018. My favorite is Venice and my husband loves the Amalfi coast. Is this doable in 2 weeks adding CT, Pisa, Pomeii and Rome?

How old are your boys? Children have their own pace, and need time to relax and play, on top of visiting. By the way, you are not mentioning Florence and Tuscany, unless you have already seen them you may probably wish to spend some time there. So, coming back to your question: yes, you can do it: Day 1: getting to Venice, check in, relax Day 2-3: Venice and the lagoon (Murano, Burano) Day 4: Venice >> CT (this will take close to one day, change train in Milan) Day: 5-6 CT Day 7: CT >> Pisa (visit the leaning tower, reserve in advance!!!) Sleep in Florence Day 8: Florence >> Rome (1,5 hours) >> Check in, city center walk (look for my post for detailed itinerary) Day 9-10: Explore Rome Day 11> Rome – Sorrento Check in, relax (yu may squeeze Pompei in day 11 if you leave early) Day 12: Visit Pompei (or Capri if you already seen Pompei on day 11) Day 13: Visit Amalfi coast: Positano, Ravello, Amalfi (renting a car could be a good idea) Day 14: Back to Rome & fly home

In my opinion, this is doable if your children are at least 8-9 and used to travel, otherwise too tiring.

Hi, thank you so much for this. It looks like your first flight coming in drops you off in Venice, but tell me at what point do you take another flight other than back home, is there one needed at all other than home?

Hi Arlene, you don’t need any additional plane for this itinerary, you can just use trains. I’m available in case you need any help for your Italy trip planning. You can also follow delightfully Italy Facebook page for additional travel inspiration https://www.facebook.com/delightfullyitaly/

Enjoy Italy!

Hi, we are headed back to Italy for our second trip. We will have 2 weeks and starting from London. We would like to spend a few days in Amalfi Coast and also Tuscany. Maybe Milan, CT, Lake Como, Naples. Not sure how to plan this. We will not be going to Venice or Pompeii or Pisa as we already did this. Would appreciate any help.

Sure Lydia, with pleasure. I will send you an e-mail with some suggestions.

Would love to see this itinerary!

Hello. We are planning trip to Italy beginning of June this year. I was thinking 2 weeks and would like to visit the following places Venice, Milan, Florence, Amalfi Coast, CT, Pompeii and Vatican. Is this doable in 2 weeks. I am flying from Tampa, FL and was thinking of arriving in Milan or Venice and then come back home from Rome or Naples. Or do it the other way around arrive to Naples or Rome and come back from Venice or Milan. Any thoughts?

Hi Ana, would fly to Venice and come back from Rome, or the other way round, depending on the air rates. Will send you additional details on your mail.

thank you for your blog it is very helpful. few questions, what is the best way for transportation between the 7 destinations? is renting a car for the whole trip possible or you recommend taking the train? also flying back the last day from Naples or Rome what you suggest. thank you!

Hi, I recommend to use the train, and hire a car only to visit specific areas such as Tuscany. The reason is taht trains are much faster and taht you are not allowed to use private cars in city centers such as Rome or Florence (and of course you don’t need a car in Venice!). If you can find a suitable flight from Naples (meaning: good time slot and not too expensive) then a flight from Naples makes a lot of sense.

Hi Jean, thank you for the blog – very helpful!! Would love to get your recommendation on a 14 day travel with 2 kids, 3 & 11 in July. We love the beaches and would like to visit few historical sites. We are flying into Milan. I was thinking about renting a car, driving down to CT, Pisa, Florence, train to Rome/Naples/Amalfi Coast. Any recommendations? Kids love train rides. I thought a car would be convenient to do things at your own pace. Thanks!

Hi Brian, thanks for your appreciation! I’ll send you a separate mail with my views and suggestions

Hi Jean, I wish to also have the same trip plan exactly like Brian. Flying into Milan and flying out from Rome for a 14 days travel, but in December. Appreciate your advice as well. Thanks.

Hi, I just answered to Brian specific points, I didn’t design a bespoke plan. For a 2 weeks itinerary you can get inspiration from my “Italy in 2 weeks” post or subscribe to my Italy Trip Planning” service.

Hi Jean love your Blog , I’m flying in to Rome with my Husband and meeting my Brothers . We have 4 days booked in Rome and then 10 days who knows , I really like to be organised my Brothers want to wing it . What’s your thoughts on this and best places to go .. thank you Karen

Hi Karen, the needed level of organization and pre-booking depends on three factors: A) when you are planning your trip: if you are planning to come in low season (ie, winter), not much need to plan ahead, in July and August you may hardly find decent accommodation and trains availability B) Were you are planning to stay, mainstream destinations: Venice, Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Amalfi coast get overbooked long ahead, while off the beaten regions (Apulia,marche, …) are less crowded C) Your visiting ambitions: if you want to limit your visit, say, to Rome, Tuscany and Umbria, then you have a reasonable amount of time to decide day by day where to go and stay, also based on availability. On the other side, if your plan is to squeeze the mainstream destinations in 14 days (Rome, Amalfi Coast, Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Venice, …), then you need to design an optimized itinarary and make sure the logistics is fixed much ahead.

Hope this is useful. Enjoy your visit and don’t hesitate to contact me should you need some help on your trip planning.

We are planing for three weeks in Italy in either may or September. Starting in Milan and ending in Sorrento and fly to back to the US from either Naples or Rome . the second week of our trip we plan on staying in Greve in Tuscany for a week and travel from there. Any suggestions.. Thanks.

Hi Mike, I would rather choose September, weather should be nicer and it’s a better period to visit the vineyards. Milano deserves 1, max 2 days, from tehre you can get to Como Lake in one hour by train (train to Varenna, then ferry to Bellagio) You may want to have a look at my post about Chianti, there’s lots of information about what to do, where to sleep…and where to wine taste! Once you are finished with Tuscany, take a high speed train to Naples, and start your Amalfi coast exploration from there. Try to dedicate one day to visit Naples, it really deserves it. Do spend a night in Capri (avoiding the week end), it’s a magical place and for a real off the beaten path experience the island of Procida will seduce you (no tourists there, just colored housed and a lost in time feeling). Even though Sorrento is a perfect hub to visit the area, in my view it’s not the most beautiful place to stay, I would rather select Positano.

These are the first things that come to my mind. If you wish help on your Italy trip planning (select best accommodations, optimize logistics, select the unmissable experiences) don’t hesitate to contact me, I’ll be more than happy to help.

Thank you for your quick response. We travel to Italy almost every year and rent an apartment in a small town just south of Florence. (Qurco)..The name of the place is Le Torri. This coming trip we are going to rent a car and drive from Milan down south and visit friends in Rome and Lake Bomba In Abruso.. then on to Sant Agata del golfi near Sorrento. then depart either from Naples or Rome depending on the flights. I would like to know if you know a good route and any good bed and breakfast places on the way. We come there to visit the people and and and enjoy your beautiful country and try not to stay at large hotels. Thanks again. Mike

Thanks for a great itinerary, am using it as a foundation for our first trip to Italy!

Hi Douglas, apologies for the late reply. I’m glad you liked my suggested itinerary. In case you need any further help for your trip planning don’t hesitate to contact me.

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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.

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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. 🙂

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• Travel Planning Guide

The Best 2-Week (14-Day) Tours in Italy

Looking for the perfect 14-day getaway to Italy with a fantastic guided tour? We've carefully analyzed all of the possible two-week tour options to Italy based on price, comfort, service, guest ratings, cuisine, and activities in order to find the absolute best multi-day organized tour options available. Whether you're seeking a relaxing getaway or an action-packed expedition, these guided tours offer the perfect length to indulge in the best of both worlds. From captivating excursions to tantalizing cuisine, get ready to experience the ultimate 2-week escape to Italy that will leave you with unforgettable memories and a renewed sense of wanderlust. Great for museums & attractions, food, nightlife, and beaches, Italy is a terrific destination. So, check out our curated list of tours below to get started!

• Mediterranean Flavors 14 Days, $2649.00
• Italy's Best 14 Days, $2839.00
• Splendours of Italy (13 Days) 13 Days, $2725.00

Which 14-day tour options are available in Italy?

Here are the important factors:

• 28 trip options analyzed
• $307 average price per day (USD)
• 13 to 14 days in length
• 4.71 of 5 average rating
• 33 people or less on average

Curious about the diverse range of tours lasting 2 weeks? Prepare to be amazed by the array of options available to suit every traveler's preferences. It comes as no surprise that visitors adore these tours, given their exceptional average guest rating of 4.71 out of 5 stars. When it comes to group sizes, the average maximum capacity stands at 33 people, allowing for a comfortable and sociable experience. The shortest tour is 13 days, while the longest is 14 days. As for physical activity options, the tours are thoughtfully categorized as easy and moderate, with the most being easy. For transportation , the tours are marked as coach / bus, train & rail, and ocean cruise, with a prevalent number on coach / bus tours. With a comprehensive analysis encompassing 28 tours lasting 2 weeks, you can rest assured that Italy has something tailored to your interests and preferences, promising an unforgettable experience for all.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 10 Best 2-Week Tours in Italy

Mediterranean flavors.

• Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for tours lasting 2 weeks.
• High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

This exceptional trip offering by Cosmos has received a 4.9 out of 5 rating. On this 14-day trip, visiting Spain, France, and Italy, you can unwind while also making new memories. Along the way, this journey encompasses 15 destinations, including Cuenca, Valencia, Peniscola, and Barcelona. Madrid will mark the start of your journey, while Rome will serve as its final destination. With a group size of 50 people, it's suitable for travelers from 5 and up. This extraordinary adventure also revolves around local culture and family-friendly activities. This remarkable trip is priced at an unbeatable $189 per day.

• Coach / Bus
• In-depth Cultural

Italy's Best

Check out this trip that has received rave reviews, earning a stellar 4.9 out of 5 rating. This itinerary covers 17 captivating destinations, with stops in Sorrento, Pisa, Montecatini, and Florence, among others. Rome will be both the start and end of your journey. This terrific trip also highights local culture and family-friendly activities. Spanning across 14 unforgettable days, this voyage offers an intimate group experience with 50 participants, and it's great for travelers from 5 and up. Brought to you by the renowned Cosmos , this exceptional opportunity is priced at an incredible $192 per day - an unbeatable value.

Splendours of Italy (13 Days)

This 13-day trip, visiting Italy and Vatican City (Holy See), is ideal for travelers from 5 to 80 years old. And priced at only $177 per day, it's a great value, too. Immerse yourself in a travel experience that includes 12 destinations, featuring Verona, Lugano, Saronno, and Pisa. Your adventure starts and ends in Rome. It's offered by Costsaver , a very popular company with rave reviews and knowledgeable guides.

Highlights of Sicily & Southern Italy

Priced at just $254 per day, this terrific 14-day trip is ideal for travelers from 5 to 80 years old. Uncover the beauty of 13 destinations on this itinerary, with highlights such as Lecce, Alberobello, Matera, and Reggio Calabria. Rome will mark the start of your journey, while Palermo will serve as its final destination. Organized by the reputable Globus , this is one of the best tours on this list.

Italian Glory (13 Days)

Check out this incredible voyage that has received a 4.6 out of 5 rating from previous guests. With an emphasis on local culture and family-friendly activities, you know you'll have an amazing adventure. With a duration of 13 days, this journey ensures an intimate group size of 50 people, and is good for travelers from 5 and up. Traverse through 9 enchanting destinations, with Florence, Maiori, Amalfi, and Pompeii among the must-see stops along the route. Milan marks the starting point, while Rome stands as the final stop on your incredible journey. This fantastic option, organized by Trafalgar , presents an unbeatable value at just $288 per day.

Best of Italy (Summer, 13 Days)

Spanning over 13 days, this trip has a maximum size of 50 individuals. Welcoming travelers from 5 and up, it is organized by Trafalgar , a very popular company with plenty of great reviews. This trip visits 12 destinations, including Pisa, Florence, Pompeii, and Sorrento along the way. You'll start and end your journey in beautiful Rome. And since the priority is on local culture and family-friendly activities, this tour is a great choice. Available at an unbeatable price of only $292 per day, this option also has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from previous guests.

Italian Mosaic

Here's your chance to take off on an exceptional trip, visiting Italy and Switzerland, that has garnered a 5 out of 5 rating. With a duration of 13 days, this jouney will have 46 participants, and it warmly welcomes travelers from 5 to 80 years old. Rest assured, this trip is all about local culture and family-friendly activities, guaranteeing an unforgettable adventure. Expertly organized by Globus , this amazing trip is an incredible value at just $346 per day.

A Taste of Italy: 14 Days

This memorable journey, visiting Italy and Vatican City (Holy See), is offered by Omega Tours which has received plenty of positive reviews. The trip itself has a guest rating of 4 out of 5 stars, and is priced affordably at $291 per day. Explore 15 incredible locations on this trip, including Vatican City, Naples, Pompeii, and Sorrento. You'll start and end this amazing trip in Rome. The maximum group size is 45 people, welcoming travelers from 8 and up.

Italian Escapade (Classic, 13 Days)

Set off on an extraordinary journey, visiting Italy and Vatican City (Holy See), that has been awarded a 4.5 out of 5 stars by previous guests. This terrific trip also highights local culture and family-friendly activities. With a duration of 13 days, this trip offers an intimate group setting, accommodating 40 individuals, while extending a warm welcome to travelers from 5 and up. Discover a journey that spans 14 destinations, with notable stops in Assisi, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Vatican City. Rome will be both the start and end of your journey. Brought to you by Insight Vacations , this exceptional deal is an incredible steal at a mere $369 per day.

Country Roads of Switzerland (Classic, 14 Days)

With this option you can experience an unparalleled voyage for 14 unforgettable days, visiting Switzerland and Italy. It ensures an intimate group setting with 40 participants at most. This trip takes you on an adventure to 16 destinations, including Zermatt, Brig, Lake Maggiore, and Lugano. Your adventure starts and ends in Zurich. Insight Vacations , the organizer of this journey, extends a warm invitation to guests travelers from 5 and up. You're in for an epic adventure with a strong emphasis on local culture and family-friendly activities. This extraordinary opportunity offers exceptional value at only $416 per day.

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy , The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy , The Best Historical Tours in Italy , The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy , The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Italy , The Best 3-Day Tours in Italy , The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy , Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Italy , The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Italy , The Best Coach Bus Tours in Italy , The Best Adventure Tours to Italy , The Best Eco Tours in Italy , The Best Train & Rail Tours in Italy , The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in Italy , The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy , The Best Cultural Tours in Italy , The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy , The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy , The Best Music Tours in Italy , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy , The Best Self Drive Tours in Italy , The Best Walking Tours in Italy , The Best Tours Under $1000 in Italy , The Best Luxury Tours to Italy , The Best Budget Tours to Italy , The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy , The Best Contiki Tours to Italy , or The Best G Adventures Tours to Italy for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Rome , The Best 3-Day Tours from Florence , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rome , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Venice , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Catania , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Naples , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Florence , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Milan , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Palermo , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bari , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Pisa , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bolzano , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Merano , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Olbia , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bologna , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cagliari , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Alberobello , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Como , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Montecatini , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Civitavecchia , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siena , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Turin , The Best 10-Day Tours from Rome , The Best 10-Day Tours from Venice , The Best 10-Day Tours from Palermo , The Best 10-Day Tours from Catania , The Best 10-Day Tours from Milan , The Best 10-Day Tours from Naples , The Best 2-Week Tours from Rome , The Best 2-Week Tours from Venice , The Best 2-Week Tours from Milan , or The Best 2-Week Tours from Palermo for more package tour options.

How much do 14-day tours to Italy cost?

After analyzing 28 tours lasting 2 weeks in Italy, we found the average price to be a remarkably economical $307 per day. Naturally, this region has many fantastic options for tours lasting 2 weeks with a variety of prices. The individual costs will vary by the destinations, travel style, available dates, and other factors. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in Italy .

And for more information on Italy, see Italy Travel Costs and Italy Hotel Costs .

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• Activities, Day Trips, Things To Do, and Excursions

Fearlessly Italy

2-Week Italy Itinerary – A Step-By-Step Guide To 14 Days In Italy

You’ve been planning a 2 week Italy itinerary for a while and still feel in a stalemate? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The country is so packed with things to do, wonderful places to visit, and great Italian food to try that anyone traveling to Italy for the first time is bound to feel overwhelmed.

If you don’t want the burden of the logistics, you can book one of the best Italy tours , but if you prefer to travel independently, fret not, we’re here to help.

This guide of ours, even though extensive and detailed, will only touch the most popular cities you can’t miss in 2 weeks in Italy. Those places you really can’t afford to miss if it’s your first time in this beautiful country.

We will squeeze as much as we can into a two-week Italy tour itinerary. It’s not strictly a Rome Florence Venice itinerary, it includes also other places, but it’s pretty classic.

Table of Contents

Is 2 weeks long enough in Italy?

If it’s your first trip, 2 weeks is a pretty good amount of time to get the grasp of what to expect from an Italian holiday, to experience the local culture, to visit the most famous and classic landmarks, and to fall in love with the country.

Two weeks in Italy is enough if you do proper planning. Whether you are planning a classic 2-week Italy itinerary or a more alternative one, you need to keep in mind that there will always be places you won’t be able to include. Which is the best excuse to plan a second trip or more!

Should I go to Italy for 2 weeks or 3 weeks?

If you are planning a country-wide itinerary, I think you will need at least two weeks to cover the most important landmarks. Of course, if you can afford 3 weeks in Italy you can either include more regions and places or stay longer in the cities you are visiting.

For example, you could stay a week in Rome, 5 days in Florence, or devote 4 to 5 days to the Campania region and enjoy a more complete experience.

14 Days In Italy – A Step-By-Step Itinerary

Granted, with so much to see, planning your best 2-week Italy itinerary is not easy. Our extensive guide will provide you with the essentials to organize a perfect vacation on your own. If you are visiting for the first time, 2 weeks in Italy are enough to see the main attractions in the main cities.

Planning 14 days in Italy allows you to explore the classics such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. If you want to enjoy a place longer, visit more attractions or take some day trips, you can easily spend 3 weeks in Italy. If you have less than two weeks in Italy, you can avoid some of the attractions in each city and stay one day less. Here, we give you the tools to plan a trip to Italy on your own.

If it’s not your first time or you have more than two weeks in Italy, check out our other guides on specific areas like Sardinia, Sicily in the cities of Catania and Agrigento, and Trentino Alto Adige, both its cities and the Dolomites mountain range.

We will see when is the best time to visit Italy depending on what type of holiday you want, we will suggest the best car rentals in case you want to embark on an Italy road trip, we will tell you what to pack and obviously what to visit to make your holiday smooth and unforgettable.

This guide will empower you to plan a trip to Italy on your own. For each city, we will provide you with the best day tours if you wish to optimize the time of your 2 weeks Italy itinerary and have more in-depth information. At the end of this guide, you will also find a selection of the best tours to Italy in case you want a hassle-free holiday where expert organizers take care of the details and the logistics for you.

Map Of Your 14 Days In Italy

Where to go: a cool itinerary for two weeks in italy, milan – 2 days.

Milan is Italy’s “Wall Street”, a bustling financial hub that attracts businessmen for work or business-oriented travelers. However, with a long history and a good deal of historical landmarks and artistic attractions, Milan has been imposing itself also as an exciting tourist destination for travelers from all over the world. On your 2-week Italy itinerary, we suggest spending 2 days in Milan . If you want to stay less, you can also visit most attractions in Milan in 1 day .

Some of the most important places to visit in Milan are:

• The Duomo. The most popular among Milan’s landmarks, the city’s cathedral is a must. Its Gothic facade never fails to bedazzle visitors and passers-by, the inside is a fascinating journey into Milan’s history and culture, and its rooftop gives you a great view of the city and its architecture.  Click here for Walks of Italy’s Best of Milan Tour that includes a visit to The Last Supper and the Duomo’s rooftop .
• Sforza Castle. Residence of one of Milan’s most prominent families, the Sforza Castle today hosts several exhibitions, both temporary and permanent, as well as being a cultural center.
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Known as Milan’s parlour, this long covered gallery is lined with cafes and shops of the most exclusive brands. It’s close to the Duomo’s square, so you can’t miss it!
• Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. Don’t miss the famous mural painting by Leonardo Da Vinci in UNESCO-listed Santa Maria delle Grazie church, beautiful Renaissance building by architect Donato Bramante.
• La Scala Opera House. Milan’s opera house, this is a beautiful Neoclassic building worth a visit even if you are not going to see the performances. You can visit both La Scala and the museum but call first because if there are rehearsals you can’t visit the theatre hall.
• Navigli. Milan’s canals are a great place for a walk both day and night. This is one of the favorite hangouts for aperitivo , dinner or a night out.

READ MORE: Check out our extensive guide to Milan to find out what to do if you have more time .

Hotels in Milan – Some suggestions

• High-end. Bulgari Hotel Milano , Four Seasons Hotel Milano , Mandarin Oriental, Milan .
• Mid-range. Hotel NH Collection Milano CityLife , Hyatt Centric Milano Centrale , Hotel Milano Scala , The Street Milano Duomo .
• Budget. B&B Hotel Milano Portello , Hotel RossoVino Milano , QUO Milano hostel .
• Apartments. CA Foscari Loft & Factory , ApartHotel Bossi .

Check out Booking for more accommodation options in Milan for every type and price.

The next stop in your two-week trip to Italy is La Serenissima, so book your Milan to Venice train and get to one of the world’s most romantic cities. Click here to check timetables and prices with Omio .

Venice – 2 to 3 Days

One of the most popular destinations in Italy, Venice is as gorgeous as it gets. Unprecedented views, a unique urban landscape, and a long history are the perfect combination for an unforgettable trip. And if you go for the Carnival, the colorful and fascinating masks will add to the charm of the city.

How many days in Venice? We suggest 2 to 3 but it really depends on how much time you have, how much you want to enjoy and explore the city and, last but not least, on your budget.

Some of the things to do in Venice in your two weeks in Italy are:

• Piazza San Marco. One of the key landmarks in Venice that make the city famous is its central Piazza San Marco, the very first place tourists visit. Surrounded by San Marco Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, this piazza is really gorgeous.
• St. Mark’s Basilica. One of the most symbolic buildings in Venice, San Marco Basilica is a gorgeous piece of Oriental-style architecture dating back to the 11th century. Click here to book the exclusive tour of St. Mark’s Basilica after closing time .
• Doge Palace.  Standing exactly where it stood throughout the centuries, the majestic Palazzo Ducale is an important piece of the city’s republican past. Get a VIP entrance to the Doge Palace with Walk of Italy’s Secret Passages tour .
• Jewish Ghetto. Europe’s oldest Jewish ghetto, Venice one was created in 1516 and is now a lovely neighborhood to stroll around the city’s traditional architecture and eat delicious local treats.
• Canals and Bridges. The beauty of Venice is in its architecture and this is directly related to its unusual layout. Instead of streets, in Venice you have canals and bridges, instead of buses, you will take the boat or if you don’t mind forking out good cash, a gondola. One of the most scenic things to do in Venice is certainly strolling around its bridges, Rialto and the Bridge of Sighs being the most famous. Click here to book Venice Boat Tour to visit the city and its bridges from the water and cruise the Grand Canal .
• Gallerie dell’Accademia. This art gallery hosts the largest collection of Venetian paintings from the Byzantine and Gothic 14th century to the Renaissance.
• Basilica dei Frari. Often neglected by the hasty traveler, this monumental Basilica is 102 meters long and boasts an impressive collection of artwork and 17 altars. It’s also the resting place of several notables, from Antonio Canova to Titian to several Doges.

Hotels in Venice – Some suggestions

• High-end. The Gritti Palace , The St. Regis Venice , Hotel Danieli, Venice .
• Mid-range. Hotel Papadopoli Venezia , Hotel Monaco & Gran Canal , Palazzo Veneziano – Venice Collection , Ruzzini Palace Hotel .
• Budget. Ca’ Pedrocchi , Dimora Marciana , Locanda Antica Venezia , Ai Cherubini .
• Apartments. Corte Barozzi Venice Suites , San Gregorio Venice Apartments , Casa del Carro 2 Grand Terrace Apartment , Palazzo Paruta & Wellness Suites .

Check out Booking for more accommodation options in Venice for every type and price.

Unless you are part of an organized tour, from Venice to the Cinque Terre, I definitely suggest you take the train as it’s cheap, comfortable and you can find different times of departure. Click here to book and see the prices on Omio (GoEuro) .

If you are skipping the Italian Riviera, check out our Venice to Florence train guide to keep planning your trip!

Cinque Terre – 2 Days

The quaint villages of the Italian Riviera never fail to bedazzle travelers from all over the world. If you want to spend three weeks in Italy, you can stay a bit longer in the Liguria region and explore also cities like Genoa and La Spezia.

Close to La Spezia, the capital of the province, are also beautiful places like Lerici and Tellaro, sea resorts cherished by writers and artists. Being on the coast, you will find great fish restaurants. Alongside the five scenic villages, part of the Cinque Terre , La Spezia’s coastline boasts also other towns worth a stop, such as Portovenere, Le Grazie, and Levanto.

The five villages known as Cinque Terre are:

• Monterosso al Mare. It’s the largest of the five towns and boasts also the largest beach on the coastline. Which is why it’s the most popular both day and night for evening parties and entertainment.
• Manarola. Famous for its Nativity Scene set for Christmas , here you can also visit 14th-century San Lorenzo Church and the remains of the local stronghold.
• Vernazza. This is a very scenic village, some consider it the most beautiful. It has two beaches and several nice restaurants. You will spend your time wandering up and down its cobbled alleys.
• Corniglia. The smallest and tallest village of the Cinque Terre, here you can visit its famous churches and sanctuaries as well as the remains of old Genoese strongholds.
• Riomaggiore. The closest village to La Spezia city, from its train station you can start the famous Via dell’Amore hiking route and the dock from where to take the ferries for the local tours and cruises.

From Cinque Terre to Florence, too, you can take the train. First, a regional to get to La Spezia and Genoa, then a high-speed train to Florence. Click here to check timetables and prices with Omio .

If you are visiting the Italian Riviera as a day trip from Florence, you can check out our guide on the different ways to reach it and how to get to Cinque Terre from Florence by train .

Florence – 3 to 4 Days

The birthplace of the Renaissance and included in most tours, very likely your Italy travel itinerary will have at least two days in Florence . Here, we suggest three to four days, but if you have only ten days in Italy , two is also enough to get a taste of the city.

The city’s history was heavily influenced by the rule of the Medici family, and today we can still see much of their legacy. Walking around Florence will fill you with beauty and culture. Enjoy its ancient art and architecture all around the city center, walk along the Arno River and linger on the Ponte Vecchio bridge for some shopping and photo snapping.

Best things to do in Florence

We wrote a full guide to Florence , if you wish to stay longer and see more places.

• Duomo and Giotto’s Bell Tower. Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and the adjoining bell tower and gorgeous Baptistery are possibly the most photographed and visited landmarks in Florence. For sure one of the first places travelers head to as soon as they arrive and a must even if you are wondering what to do in Florence in one day . Click here for a full experience of Florence Duomo and Michelangelo’s David.
• Uffizi Gallery. A huge art collection, at the Uffizi you will find the paintings and statues of some of the world’s most famous artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Raphael, Cimabue and many others. Here the line is very long, so if you want to skip it and optimize your time inside the museum with a guide, check out Walks of Italy’s 3-hour Uffizi Tour comprehensive also of Palazzo Vecchio.
• Santa Maria Novella Basilica. Located near Florence’s main train station, this beautiful Dominican basilica built with a mix of Gothic and Romanesque styles includes great artwork, paintings, chapels, a big garden, and a cloister.
• Pitti Palace. Residence of many of Florence’s ruling families, Palazzo Pitti today is a large complex of art galleries and royal apartments.
• Boboli’s Gardens. Adjoining the Pitti Palace, the elegant Giardini di Boboli were built in 1418 when Luca Pitti bought this vast land intending to build a mansion (Pitti Palace will be built 40 years later). One of Florence’s largest parks, Boboli Gardens are one of the most important examples of Italian gardens of the 16th century.
• San Lorenzo Cathedral. The personal cathedral of the powerful Medici family, San Lorenzo huge church also hosts a museum showing the donations received over the centuries, most of them by the same Medicis. Close is also the burial place of the Medicis, known as Cappelle Medicee.

Hotels in Florence – Some suggestions

• High-end. Portrait Firenze – Lungarno Collection , Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy , The St. Regis Florence , Four Seasons Hotel Firenze , Hotel Lungarno – Lungarno Collection .
• Mid-range. Donati Luxury Tower Suites , Hotel Bernini Palace , Hotel Number Nine , Arte’ Boutique Hotel .
• Budget. Il Gattopardo B&B , Eco Urban B&B , Cicerone Guest House , Hotel Art Atelier .
• Apartments. Modarno Exclusive Apartments , Windows on Florence , Casa del Sarto , Residenza Marchesi Pontenani .

Check out Booking for more accommodation options in Florence.

The whole region of Tuscany is amazing, so if you can stretch your holiday a couple more days, you might like to explore also other cities such as Siena and Pisa  and the countryside with a day trip from Florence to the Chianti region and San Gimignano town. Click here to check availability and price .

Florence is not too far from Rome, with Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa or Frecciargento high-speed trains, it takes an hour and a half. Click here to book and see the prices on Omio .

READ MORE: How to plan a perfect trip to Florence

Rome – 4 to 6 Days

The capital of the ancient Roman empire boasting some 3000 years of history and rich civilization, the places to visit in Rome are endless. From the archaeological sites of the Roman Forum to the quaint neighborhood of Trastevere to the Vatican City, the more you manage to devote to Rome, the better you will experience the city. It goes without saying that Rome is a must-see, especially if it’s your first 2-week trip to Italy.

Having a hard time planning your Rome trip? We design your itinerary and guide you through the planning!

Some of the things to do in Rome in your 2 weeks in Italy include:

• Colosseum. Possibly the most famous and photographed landmark in Rome, the Coliseum was built in 70 AD to host fights among gladiators, public shows, animal hunts and even naval battles.
• Roman Forum. Located in the valley between the Palatine and the Capitoline Hills, the Roman Forum was the heart of ancient Rome, where senators and public figures held their speeches, where they organized the city’s markets, court trials and pretty much everything concerning public life. Click here for the VIP Colosseum and Roman Forum Tour .
• Baths of Caracalla. Gorgeous ancient public baths, they included also a gym, a library, and different rooms for the bath experience and a wellness center. They are often skipped for lack of time, but if you can make it, they are really beautiful.
• Vatican City. The seat of Christendom and papal residence for centuries, the Vatican City is packed with sites to visit such as the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums and obviously St. Peter’s Basilica. If you want to fully enjoy the Vatican, the best thing you can do is to skip the lines, especially to the museums and the basilica. In this case, the convenience of booking a tour, apart from VIP access, is that your guide will take you directly to the places you shouldn’t miss. The Vatican is really big!  Click here to see Walks of Italy’s Private Vatican Tour .
• Trastevere. A gentrified former working-class neighborhood, Trastevere is the place to go for a good night out. During the day, however, you can also visit the Museum of Roman Popular Traditions which sometimes also hosts temporary exhibitions and Villa Farnesina where are Raphael’s frescoes.
• Hadrian Mausoleum. Built by Emperor Hadrian as his own funerary mausoleum in the 2nd century, this is also known as Castel Sant’Angelo and is located along the Tiber River, giving beautiful views both day and night.
• Pantheon. A very old building, it was a temple devoted to all gods built with an “oculus”, a hole in the big dome to symbolize direct contact with the divine. Now it’s a Catholic church that hosts several tombs of members of the former royal family and of the famous painter Raphael.
• Piazza Navona. Huge elliptical piazza in the city center not far from the Pantheon, Piazza Navona has three fountains, the largest being Bernini’s Four Rivers Fountain standing in front of Borromini’s Sant’Agnese church.
• Spanish Steps. Rome’s most famous staircase, the Spanish Steps lead to St. Trinità dei Monti church, ordered by French king Louis XII, while at the bottom you can view Bernini’s sculpture known as La Barcaccia.
• Trevi Fountain. An absolute must, especially if you are visiting Rome for the first time, is Trevi Fountain, the gorgeous baroque fountain built between 1732 and 1762.

Rome is divided into “Rioni”, neighborhoods, and each of them has its own landmarks and personality. From Prati to Trastevere to Testaccio and Ostiense , countless are the things to see in Rome, the restaurants where you can try the traditional food, the park where to run, jog or chill out for an afternoon, the museums, the palaces and more. To get around and see how to best enjoy Rome, check out my full guide of the city , or click here to see what are the best Rome tours if you wish to save some time but still visit the most important sites.

My eBook “ Tasting Rome by Neighbourhood ” suggests five daily Rome itineraries in as many districts, giving you the chance to explore the popular and lesser-known areas of the city stopping to eat in the best restaurants along the way. All the meals of the day are covered, from breakfast to dinner, with some suggestions also for aperitif and gelato.

Hotels in Rome – Some suggestions

I wrote several guides to navigate the huge landscape of Rome hotels:

• Best 5-star Rome hotels
• Best boutique hotels in Rome
• Best budget hotels in Rome
• Best cheap hotels in Rome
• Best hotels near Termini Station
• Best hotels near the Pantheon in Rome
• Top hotels near the Spanish Steps in Rome
• Top hotels near Piazza Navona in Rome
• Top hotels near the Trevi Fountain in Rome
• Best hotels near the Colosseum in Rome
• Best hotels in Rome city center
• Best hotels near the Vatican in Rome
• Best family-friendly Rome hotels
• Best hotels in Trastevere
• Most romantic hotels in Rome

Check out Booking for more Rome hotel options.

Your next stop when planning a 2 week trip to Italy for the first time is Naples, the gorgeous capital city of the Campania region not too far from Rome. With Trenitalia high-speed trains you will reach it in a little more than an hour. Click here to book and see the prices on Omio (GoEuro) .

Naples and the Amalfi Coast – 3 Days

Famous for having invented the pizza, alongside delicious cuisine, Naples has a lot to offer to the curious traveler who wants to dig deep into the local history and culture. If you stay for 2 days in Naples , you will have plenty of time to walk around its city center, enjoy the view of the Vesuvio volcano and the beach, explore its wonderful coastline, and soak in its rich tradition.

Some of the best things to do in Naples in your 2 weeks in Italy include:

• Royal Palace. Naples’ Palazzo Reale is located in Piazza del Plebiscito, an old square that in the Middle Ages was used for public tournaments and shows in the age of the Bourbons. It has been made pedestrian so now it’s the place where locals and tourists like to relax in a historical promenade.
• Archaeological Museum. Launched in 1816, Naples’ Museo Archeologico displays a huge collection of ancient relics, among which you will find relics from Pompeii and others from the Greek-Roman age, Etrurian and Egyptian, and ancient coins from a private collection.
• Duomo.  Naples’ Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral shows the paintings of Luca Giordano and is the place where locals worship San Gennaro, patron of the city. Here you can also see the Treasure of San Gennaro and all the precious donations given by kings, presidents, and leaders of the world for centuries.
• Spaccanapoli. This is the long road built by the Romans to better organize the city, and it runs from the Quartiere degli Spagnoli to Forcella district. Wandering this road you will also wander the city’s history and multifaceted society. Here, in fact, you are going to see old buildings, churches, shops, abusive street vendors, and local restaurants that release the unique scent of Napoli’s cuisine.
• Sansevero Chapel and the Veiled Christ. A hidden gem near Spaccanapoli is Cappella Sansevero where you can admire the incredible sculpture of the Veiled Christ (Cristo Velato), a masterpiece by Giuseppe Sanmartino where you will totally mistake the marble veil that covers the body of the Christ for a fine fabric!
• Underground Naples. Beneath the surface, you can visit another Naples, the hidden spots, and nooks that citizens have used for different purposes such as shelter during the bombings, the hideout for the runaway criminals, and the water springs. Today, you can visit also museums, the relics found after ongoing archaeological diggings, and the Bourbons Gallery.
• Pompeii and Ercolano. I know time is short, but once you are in Naples, we recommend you devote a day to visit the ruins of the ancient cities of Pompei and Ercolano, destroyed by the Vesuvio eruption in 70 AD. They are very easy to reach via a short ride on the Circumvesuviana train and you can spend there the whole day. Click here to see reviews and prices for the tours and activities available in Pompeii .

Hotels in Naples – Some suggestions

• High-end. Grand Hotel Parker’s , ROMEO Napoli , Grand Hotel Vesuvio .
• Mid-range. Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel , Prestige Rooms Chiaia , NapoliMia Boutique Hotel .
• Budget. Le Corti del Re , Hotel Bella Napoli , Sant’Angelo Suites .
• Apartments. Appartamenti Mergellina , Borgo 1313 Apt , La Casa sul Nilo .

Check out Booking’s website for more hotel options.

Hotels in the Amalfi Coast – Some suggestions

• High-end. Hotel Conca d’Oro in Positano, Positamy in Positano,
• Mid-range. Le Muse Suite in Sorrento, Villa Setteventi in Positano, Amalfi Luxury House ,
• Budget. Ambrosio Relais in Sorrento, B&B MoMi Sorrento , Residenza Ester .
• Apartments. Sorrento Apartments , Lucy’s House in Amalfi, Amalfitano Apartments .

Once your 14 days in Italy are over, you can either take your flight back home from Naples or take a train to Rome and your flight from Fiumicino International Airport.

Hidden gems + alternative Italy itineraries

If you like to discover also more offbeat destinations or you can afford a longer holiday, say 3 weeks in Italy, you can really add some interesting places to your Italy itinerary.

For example, let’s say that you are back in Rome after this two-week Italy trip and you have one extra week.

For a lovely alternative, you can catch a plane to Sardinia and enjoy a fantastic offbeat destination! To be able to stray off the bigger cities and explore its traditional soul, make sure you rent a car.

Your experience in Sardinia will depend on the season. If you are traveling in summer, especially in July and August, what you can do will be pretty much limited to the beach because it’s really hot. Not too bad, considering that Sardinia is surrounded by wonderful beaches and the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Famous are the beaches of the Costa Smeralda and the northern coast where you can find cool European vacation rentals .

If you go in spring or fall, you can enjoy a more authentic experience by exploring the towns of the inland. Places like Orgosolo, Oristano, Ghilarza, and San Sperate will make for lovely trips to immerse in the local culture.

In winter, I suggest a stop in Mamoiada for their Mamuthones festival. You can see these ancient masquerades on the night of the 16th of January or in February for Carnival. Carnival is a fantastic occasion to visit also towns like Oristano where they celebrate it with the Sartiglia or Ottana where they have the masks of Boes and Merdules, always coming from ancient times and farming-themed.

If it’s your first time in Sardinia, I also suggest you explore the city where you land, which is going to be either Cagliari, Bosa, or Alghero . All of them are extremely fascinating and are surrounded by interesting places for a potential day trip.

Northern Italy

If you enjoy the northern cities and want to explore more of them, a nice alternative is to explore the Trentino Alto Adige region or the beautiful city of Turin .

The region of Trentino Alto Adige is heaven for nature lovers. For scenic treks, choose any of the destinations in the Dolomites from the stunning Madonna di Campiglio to Molveno Lake to the Marmolada.

If you are more of a cultural traveler, you can explore charming cities like Trento , Bolzano , Rovereto, and Merano, or quaint towns like Bressanone and Levico. In Trentino Alto Adige, when you are not skiing, you can visit the castles scattered around the region like Castel Thun and Castel Beseno or sacred places like San Romedio Sanctuary perched on a cliff.

City slickers will probably enjoy a couple of days in Turin. The cool capital of the Piedmont region opens up to a myriad of different opportunities.

If you are fond of Christian history, you can visit the Duomo to see the Holy Shroud, while other types of spirituality will be attracted by esoteric places such as Piazza Statuto, Portone del Diavolo (Gates of Hell), and Chiesa della Gran Madre di Dio.

In Turin, you can definitely enjoy great food, indulge in an evening aperitif, and sip their traditional bicerin coffee drink . For some great day trip, head to the Baroque Basilica of Superga or Venaria Reale royal palace.

Not sure if you’d rather visit Milan or Turin ? Our tips will help!

Bologna and Emilia Romagna

Foodies on the lookout for some alternative destinations to include in their 2-week Italy itinerary should consider Bologna . Showcasing a very elegant architecture, the streets of the city center are covered with porticoes, making it more pleasant to walk in both summer and winter.

Being the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, it goes without saying that the food in Bologna is hearty, delicious, and pretty fulfilling. Tuck into lasagna, piadina, tortellini, and all types of stuffed pasta in ragout sauce before moving on to the next destination.

Other fantastic places to visit in the region are Ravenna, the last capital of the western Roman Empire and packed with gorgeous Byzantine mosaics that have been declared UNESCO world heritage sites, Parma and the surrounding castles, Modena and Maranello for sports cars fans, and Rimini and Riccione in summer.

It’s really hard to leave Sicily off your trip. Whether you are following a classic 2-week Italy itinerary or a more alternative one, Sicily is the largest Italian island and packed with amazing cities, activities, foods, and historical sites to discover.

Whether you land in Palermo or Catania, I suggest taking your time to explore your port of arrival before moving on. Palermo is Italy’s “most Arab” city. Showcasing a suggestive combination of Christian and Muslim sacred sites and decorative patterns, in Palermo you can easily spend a week doing every day something different.

Of course, the region deserves to be visited far and wide, so I’ll understand if you move onto the next harbour sooner. Get lost in the maze of alleys of Mazara del Vallo where you will spot architectural and artistic influences from the Romans, the Punics, the Saracens, and the Normans. This beautiful town is famous for its pristine beaches lapped by a crystal azure sea.

Carry on to Agrigento where, apart from enjoying the local beaches, you can also visit the town and the famous Valle dei Templi Greek ruins. Before leaving Sicily, make sure you consider visiting also places like Syracuse, Ragusa, Taormina, and the beautiful Catania for its charming architecture and an excursion on the Etna Mount.

Take more day trips

Alternatively, you can spend more days in some of the cities suggested in our classic 2 weeks in Italy itinerary and take some day trips.

From Florence, you can enjoy a great day trip to Pisa , Lucca, or Siena . Or other fantastic towns such as San Gimignano, Arezzo, and obviously the wonderful vineyards of the Chianti region.

There are also plenty of day trips you can take from Rome . You can visit the beautiful Viterbo also known as the city of popes, the scenic Bracciano on its namesake lake, Cerveteri for Etruscan history and necropolis, and Tivoli for two wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

From Venice, you can head to Verona for a day and come back in the evening. Venice is a big group of islands, so when you are done with the main attractions in Piazza San Marco and the Jewish Quarter, head to the picturesque harbors of Burano, Torcello, Pellestrina, and Sant’Erasmo.

Some other great day trips from Venice in the Veneto region include Treviso, Padova, Rovigo, Vicenza, and Belluno for a great holiday in the Dolomites.

From Naples, I highly recommend you visit Pompeii. History buffs can even devote two days to this wonderfully preserved ancient Roman city because it’s huge and all parts are very interesting and revealing of the local life before the Vesuvius destroyed it. More great day trips from Naples include Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, and the city of Caserta for its gorgeous “Reggia” royal palace.

The possibilities are endless, and soon we’ll be publishing a full northern Italy itinerary and an exciting offbeat Italy itinerary!

Essential tips for two weeks in Italy

Best time to travel to italy.

Boasting a mild climate and the advantages of four seasons, depending on what your ideal holiday is, any time is good to visit Italy.

Do you like skiing? Explore the beautiful Dolomites in Trentino Alto Adige. Do you prefer chilling out in the sun? Discover the gorgeous beaches in Sardinia in summer.

As far as the main cities go, any month is good to visit. In Rome, Florence and Venice there are so many things to see and do that really any season is good. If you are quite free to choose your holiday time, I would probably avoid July and August as they are very crowded and can be very hot. So not so pleasant to walk around the city center.

Spring and Fall are both great seasons to visit the big cities both to avoid the crowds and to have a more pleasant climate.

How to get around Italy

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 Italy railway is great to reach also smaller towns and even tiny villages. The perfect way of traveling around Italy for two weeks.

If you are visiting the 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. So for example, if you want to visit the Tuscany countryside or some parks outside Rome, I suggest you rent a car. Definitely, the best option when planning a 2-week Italy road trip. Click here for more info and to book a car in Italy .

What to pack for Italy

As Italy has four seasons, you can decide what to pack once you know when you are traveling. Spring is a very popular season thanks to its mild weather, but 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 in the evening when it’s usually colder. If you are planning a 2-week trip to Italy in Spring, make sure you pack some pretty flexible clothes.

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 light clothes and carry a jacket, a light jumper, and a light scarf for the evening. Make sure you pack an umbrella.

If you are wondering what to pack for Italy for the winter, it’s pretty straightforward: warm clothes, a jacket, a coat, warm trousers, and sweaters. 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!

For some peace of mind, especially on public transport, you might want to wear anti-theft clothes. Clever Travel Companion has a pretty wide 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.

How much money do you need for 2 weeks in Italy?

If you are really traveling on a budget, you should consider putting aside around 1500€ (1600$), international flights excluded. If you prefer mid-range accommodation rather than hostels or cheap B&Bs and to treat yourself to some restaurant lunch or dinner, a budget of 2000€ (2100$) per person will be more likely.

Accommodation prices will vary depending on the location and on the season. Rome in November will be cheaper than in December , April , or even August . Generally speaking, Italy in December will be more expensive than in January or in November . Also, hotels in Naples will be more affordable than in Venice.

When it comes to food, if you wish to save some good bucks, you can opt for street food on the go, which is delicious and you are bound to find plenty of specialties.

The cost of local transport depends on how you travel. Domestic flights are usually more expensive than trains and buses, including bullet trains. You can find some offers and promotions but it’s a matter of luck. Of course, if you need to go from Milan to Palermo quickly, a flight is the best option.

High-speed trains are more expensive than regional and Intercity trains, but obviously faster. They are more affordable than flights and in some cases I think a better choice. For example, if you are going from Milan to Rome, or from Florence to Rome, the bullet train will take you from city center to city center so you are going to save time and money of the airport transfers.

Regional trains are recommended if you wish to stop in smaller towns where Trenitalia’s Freccia trains and Italo fast trains don’t stop.

Finally, if you are traveling on a shoestring and want to save also in public transport, check out bus schedules and routes. This is the cheapest option but also the slowest. This means that you either need to stay in Italy for more than two weeks, sacrifice some destinations, or skip some landmarks.

READ MORE: Tips for planning a perfect trip to Italy

Which is better Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre?

If you are traveling with kids and planning cultural sightseeing, the Amalfi Coast should be your choice. The Cinque Terre is a good option if you want to do some hiking between the towns and visit other cities of the Italian Riviera and Liguria region such as Levico, Genoa , and La Spezia.

Amalfi Coast is the destination for celebrities and families. Its location close to Naples, Pompeii, Caserta, and Sorrento allows for a great cultural holiday.

Both Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are summer destinations because they are on the coast and in winter most tourism resorts and facilities are closed. Plus, bad weather might cause landslides and heavy rain.

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• 2 weeks in Italy: how to organize the perfect 14 day itinerary
• Places and Tours

A special 2 week itinerary to discover all the best places in Italy for your visits and shopping. Check out all the practical info here.

You have taken your vacation and have already purchased your airline tickets. Your destination for your 2-week vacation is Italy !

You already imagine yourself sailing down the Grand Canal in a gondola, strolling through the streets of Florence, and gazing with awe mixed with reverence at the Colosseum. But won't there be something else missing from the list?

Indeed, planning a 2-week itinerary through Italy may not be the easiest thing. So many places to visit, foods to savor, and most importantly, so many experiences to have. Art, shopping, good food- you really want to try it all .

For this reason, we have prepared this guide where you will find all the information you need to create the perfect 14-day tour through Italy.

We'll tell you the must-see stops , the experiences to consider , and we'll also give you some useful tips for organizing your tour in the best possible way.

So, let's get started right away!

2 weeks in Italy: some tips to get you started

One of the first questions that might arise as you plan your itinerary is whether 2 weeks is really enough time to visit Italy. And the answer is certainly not easy.

We, who have lived in Italy all our lives, love it and promote it around the world, know very well how many treasures our Bel Paese holds. Yet, we can tell you without any doubt what are the stops you should not miss if you come to Italy for the first time. They are those places that are so peculiar and unique that as soon as you see them, you cannot help but exclaim, "Ah, This is indeed Italy".

Of course, if you come to Italy more than once, and we really hope you do, we will be glad to give you new suggestions and let you discover some destinations outside the most known and beaten routes . Perhaps you would like to discover the Dolomites or our islands, such as Sicily, Sardinia or Ischia, recently named among the most beautiful islands in the world?

All that anticipated, we are ready to go. Or rather, land. And we will do just that in one of the jewels of our peninsula: Venice.

Day 1: the arrival day

Here we are in Venice, the city that, with its shimmering lagoon and elegant Gothic palaces, makes millions and millions of tourists dream each year.

On this first day, also aided by jet lag, we suggest you start exploring the city freely and map out its landmarks in your mind. The Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, San Marco. Start here and be ready because the best is yet to come!

Buonanotte (Good Night)!

Day 2: A day in the Floating City among visits and shopping

Buongiorno (Good morning)!

It's time for your first breakfast in Italy. As you may have already guessed, in Italy we love the sweet breakfast : cornetto (or brioches ) and cappuccino . Occasionally, however, we also like to enjoy some savory options such as eggs toast and scrambled eggs. The choice is up to you for the next two weeks in Italy!

So, once you've savored breakfast (perhaps from the terrace of some hotel overlooking the canals), it's time to hit the road.

We certainly suggest that you take advantage of a guided tour of the city , perhaps lasting a couple of hours. During the walk, you will learn about the history of our beloved Serenissima and visit some of its most important places. You will learn so much about the local culture that the hours of sightseeing will seem so short!

In any case, you will have the afternoon to devote to the activities that interest you most. Could it be that gondola ride? Or perhaps a visit to the Guggenheim?

If, on the other hand, you want to take home a great memory of your stay here, you could head to Noventa di Piave Designer Outlet and treat yourself to an intense afternoon of shopping among the best-known brands of Made in Italy and beyond.

It's already evening. One last moonlit walk (don't miss it!), a romantic dinner by the canal and we are ready to continue our 14 day tour.

Day 3. Departure to Milan

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After breakfast, it's time to depart. Depending on your interests, you can decide whether to leave immediately for Milan and take your time visiting the city, or make a quick stop in Verona and lose yourself in the streets of the city of Romeo and Juliet.

Once you have arrived in Milan , it is time for sightseeing . A city that has become a metropolis over the past few years, a place that provides a plethora of cultural attractions, events and exhibitions . Not to mention that places like the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and La Scala Theater are among the most incredible attractions you will see on your trip.

If you love shopping, then, Milan is one of the must-see places to visit, thanks to an offer of high-fashion brands that is nothing short of endless.

But the surprises certainly don't end there.

For now, though, good night in Milan.

Day 4. A day at the Cinque Terre

Today we leave early because the day will be really busy. Destination: Cinque Terre , a wonderful (and to say wonderful is an understatement) natural park lapped by the waters of the Ligurian Sea.

On your way to the park, you can make a brief restorative stop at the Serravalle Designer Outlet : high-fashion stores and restaurants where you can enjoy also Italian delicacies will all be just a few steps away.

The Serravalle Designer Outlet is Europe's largest outlet center , with over 230 stores and more than 300 premium and luxury brands and a wide range of dining options for all needs and cultures. A true shopping paradise, a must-see landmark for all fashion lovers .

Now that the spirit is rejuvenated, it's time to finally arrive in paradisiacal Liguria.

You can visit the Cinque Terre by following the railroad route or by boat. Undoubtedly, the visit by boat is much more relaxing and you can admire the spectacular panorama of cliffs and green mountains plunging into the blue sea . An endless thrill, colored even more by the presence of the picturesque villages , among which we certainly mention Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare and Manarola. True gems nestled on the water.

The day was so busy that there is no room for anything else but a princely dinner at a restaurant with a view of the sea (and sunset) and a restful night. Tomorrow will be a new day of real excitement.

Day 5: Departure to Florence

After breakfast (sweet or savory team, by the way?), it's time to pack up and head off to the spectacular city of Florence.

This could be a quiet day where you start exploring one of our country's most important cities. Or you could already start with an initial guided tour of the city (there are some very fun ones that are also done by bicycle!).

You will see how much history and art literally ooze out of every building you encounter along your walk.

Be enchanted by the power of this city that was the most important cultural reference in Europe during the Renaissance era .

An aperitif with some good wine (and what wine in Tuscany!) and then dinner. In Florence, you know, you'll really be spoiled for choice. Pici or Florentine steak ? Cacciucco or soup? And why not taste everything, just to make sure you make the right choice?

End the evening with a stroll through the city, which is slowly emptying of all its visitors, and perhaps an after-dinner drink in one of the many clubs in the center.

Day 6: A day full of great visits

Florence, like so many other Italian cities, holds more treasures than our eyes can grasp . Well, get a guide to start exploring them all.

Discover the magic of the Duomo and its Baptistery, and let yourself be led through the streets that have made the city's history. Learn about the great people of the past, such as Dante Alighieri, Leonardo da Vinci, and the vicissitudes of the Medici family.

You could continue your city tour by exploring the Accademia Museum or the Uffizi (remember to make reservations well in advance) or indulge in some shopping. On the other hand, Florence is one of Italy's most famous cities for leather work, and here you will undoubtedly find exquisitely crafted garments at truly exceptional prices. A short distance from the historic center, you will also find one of the fashion hubs: discover the website of Barberino Designer Outlet to learn more!

Day 7: Rome, finally

We are wondering if tonight the excitement of finally seeing the Eternal City will make you sleep!

After all, even for us Italians, returning to this city is always moving and we always feel like we are visiting it for the first time.

To dilute the excitement a bit, you could visit San Gimignano , the city of beautiful towers . There are 72 of them and they contribute to the truly iconic skyline of this Tuscan town. Not to mention that the surrounding landscape of olive groves and vineyards is nothing short of poignant.

Indulge in a lunch of local produce in one of the most beautiful settings our country has to offer and then head off to Rome.

So much there is to do in this extraordinary city that perhaps we suggest you not rush too much and leave this first afternoon free : a walk, a streetcar ride, an aperitif. Let the slow pace of Rome get into your veins before you start visiting!

Day 8: A visit to the country's most iconic place

It took a good eight days but, finally, here we are. We are ready to visit the ancient Rome and its symbol, the Colosseum.

We don't want to anticipate here the emotions you will feel but we assure you that it will be a truly indelible moment of this trip. Since this guide is also meant to give you practical information for your 14 days in Italy, we give you two tips right away:

- Book your ticket in advance (you can no longer buy tickets locally);

- If possible, book your visit early in the morning or in the evening , times that tend to be quieter.

In addition to this colossal example of Roman architecture and engineering, your ticket will give you access to the entire Palatine and Imperial Forum area. We undoubtedly suggest that you take your time to visit this striking area and, if possible, join a guided tour. You will thank us later!

At the end of the tours, you could head to the Altar of the Fatherland and, from there, take Via del Corso, which takes you to the upscale Roman shopping area . Have you never heard of Via Condotti? That's it, this street, is right surrounded by some of Rome's landmarks, such as the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo, just beyond.

Undoubtedly, today is a busy day of sightseeing. But perhaps not as busy as the following day....

Day 9: The temple of art within the capital city

Well, by now it should be clear where we are heading today: the Vatican City .

In order to experience this day, though, remember that you really need to book tickets to the Vatican Museums in advance. This is one of the most visited museums in the world and you may struggle to find tickets, especially if you come to Italy during a peak season.

At any rate, in the halls you will see over the course of your visit, be prepared for the awe and wonder, second only to the emotion, this time silent, that you will feel when you cross the threshold of the Apostolic Palace and enter the Sistine Chapel. You will have little time and will not be able to take photos, so be sure to live each moment intensely and treasure every moment. They will be the most precious souvenirs you will take home from this trip.

The visit to the museums may be so intense that there is no room for anything else, but once you have finished, we definitely suggest you walk towards Trastevere .

For here beats the heart of the Rome of the Romans and you could experience a truly unforgettable evening. Restaurants, places for aperitifs, small craft stores and ateliers: you cannot leave Rome without seeing this extraordinary neighborhood.

And don't forget to taste a good Amatriciana or Carbonara : more than a suggestion, it is a moral imperative!

Day 10: Do not leave Rome without...

How many things are left to do and visit in this city? So many indeed, so you need to choose according to your preferences.

It could be a visit to the park and museum of Villa Borghese with the extraordinary works of Bernini, or a visit to the Baths of Caracalla, one of the most poignant places in the city. And again, you could devote time in the area of so-called Baroque Rome and spend time at the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and go inside the Pantheon.

Or, you could leave a little room for improvisation and devote time to strolling around the neighborhoods you haven't seen yet, such as the eccentric Coppedè District or do some shopping.

We've already mentioned the luxury street, but you could also explore the boutiques and artisanal stores scattered around the city. An aperitif and dinner (remember to try the Roman pizza, because it is completely different from the one in Naples) and we are ready for another day of the tour.

Day 11: Departure to Naples

Pack your bags because you're off to one of the most fascinating and picturesque cities you'll find in Italy.

Before arriving at your destination, however, we certainly suggest you make a stop in the Castelli Romani area , immediately south of the capital. This is a hilly area of resounding beauty in which you can discover medieval villages overlooking splendid views. This is also a great area to try the local gastronomy and do some great shopping . The Castel Romano Designer Outlet , for example, is certainly one of the places to consider for your branded purchases.

And now, we are ready to get to Naples. Here, too, we certainly suggest that you let yourself be led by what you see (and especially by your sense of smell!) to start getting to know this extraordinary city.

Day 12: A day in the City of the Sun

Here we are at last in the City of the Sun at the foot of Vesuvius.

The city center is really vast so if you really want to get to know it, we suggest a guided tour . You can discover the Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali with its endless little craft stores and places selling all kinds of gastronomic delights from the early hours of the morning: pizza a portafoglio , cuoppo , taralli , pizza fritta , not to mention desserts, such as babas and sfogliatelle .

Then continue your visit by heading down to the sea area, and discover the Quartieri Spagnoli, Piazza del Plebiscito, and the Castello dell'Ovo. Your walk could really go on forever because behind every street and every palace, there are new treasures and gems to discover.

Time for an aperitif, dinner (because in Naples you really can't stop eating!) and it's time for a new day.

Day 13: A Royal day

To head towards a worthy conclusion to this tour, why not have a royal experience?

We certainly suggest you visit the extraordinary Reggia di Caserta, known to be the largest royal palace in the world (yes, even Versailles!).

47 thousand square meters in which are located the magnificent 18th-century palace and gardens so extensive that they cannot be seen simply on foot, but you will have to board special shuttles provided by the palace.

Caserta , moreover, is a city known for its excellent gastronomy , very different from that of Naples, and for the possibility of quality shopping . In that regard, La Reggia Designer Outlet could really be the solution for you!

Day 14: What to do at the end of these 2 weeks in Italy?

This last day of the tour could be devoted to what you like and are most excited about .

It could be dedicated to exploring Vesuvius Park, or the archaeological site of Pompeii. Or, you could really think about going to visit the Amalfi Coast but perhaps, in that case, you would need to add an extra night to your two-week itinerary in Italy.

Alternatively, you could always relax on the streets of Naples and be seduced by the many opportunities offered by this incredible city: the Archaeological Museum, the Catacombs, the Sansevero Chapel.

Which idea will you choose?

14 days in Italy: our tips

As you may have discovered, if this is your first time exploring our country, you will need at least two weeks to discover all its highlights.

Also, surely as you read this article, numerous questions may have surfaced in your mind. How do you get around? Where do you sleep or where do you eat?

You will discover on our site a series of guides dedicated to individual cities and which we have specially created to answer all these questions.

And if you'd like a few more shopping tips , on the McArthurGlen Designer Outlets website, you'll find more information about outlets in the area, brands and discounts. Yes, discounts of up to 70 percent on brands you already know and love.

Visit McArthurGlen Designer Outlets' website !

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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.

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2 Weeks in Italy: 4 itineraries

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As one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, Italy is home to some of the most breathtaking architectural features you could ever find. Along with gastronomic delights and cultural attractions, you can’t blame tourists as this country moves and inspires like no other. 

There is something to be discovered at every corner that will titillate your senses and fill your belly. Whether you are hungry for natural sights, culinary delights, or all things culture, Italy will not disappoint you.

If you have 2 weeks in Europe and have never been to the ancient country of Italy, well, you have to go. If you love the beach and wineries, you can also spend 14 days in Southern Europe .

That is why it is recommended that you spend at least 2 weeks in Italy to make the most out of your trip. You can also simply cover only a specific region and check out the other parts on your next visit.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING ITALY

Before you get ready for your trip to Italy, there are a few things that you need to know first. One is that taking public transport, such as the metro train, is convenient. The tips below will help you plan your travel to Italy.

ALSO READ: 2 weeks in France – choose between 3 different itineraries

When is the best time to go to Italy

The best time to travel to Italy is in spring (April to June) and fall (September and October). When you travel during these times of the year, you will get to enjoy perfect weather (not too hot or too cold, a little rain here and there). Plus, it is less crowded so you are more likely to find great deals on accommodation and airfare.

You might want to avoid the summer season (June to August) which is the busiest time of the year. During this time, it’s very crowded and prices in Italy that are related to tourism are usually at an all-time high making accommodations much more expensive.

If you want to go skiing and enjoy the Alps, go between December to February. December is also peak season because of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Are 2 weeks enough for Italy

14 days might be a tight schedule for Italy, but if you decide to f ocus on a specific region or 2-3 cities, it can be a perfect amount of time.

For example, on this trip, visit northern Italy only. That means you can add Turin, Milan, and Genoa to your itinerary, especially if you love nature and history. But for those who are visiting northern Italy for the first time, you can go to Venice, Bologna, and Florence.

In southern Italy, you have Rome, Naples, and Bari or the island of Sicily plus Rome. Trying to see More than 2-3 cities will get your Italy itinerary really cramped and you’d feel like you’re chasing a bus, train, or flight most of the time than relaxing.

Average cost of 14 days in Italy

It’s undeniable that Italy has gotten more expensive in the last few decades. For a mid-range budget, a two-week trip to Italy could cost roughly $2,000-$3,500 per person . This includes staying in standard hotels, eating at mid-range restaurants, using public transportation, and participating in typical tourist activities.

If you’re on a tight budget, you could manage a two-week trip for about $1,000-$1,500 per person . This involves staying in budget accommodations like hostels or budget hotels, eating at inexpensive eateries or self-catering, using public transport, and focusing on free or cheap activities.

For a luxury trip, expect to spend anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 or more per person for two weeks in Italy. This includes staying in luxury hotels or villas, dining at high-end restaurants, private tours, and premium experiences.

Getting around

Getting around in Italy as a visitor is very easy. Public transportation throughout the country is well-connected , especially the trains . Italy has a speed train which is a lot faster than driving. Although delay on the scheduled trip must be expected. You can also use buses to get from city to city.

Always be on the lookout for the local news. There are times when the train service is shut down due to labour strikes.

Renting a car will be an awesome ide a. You’ll be able to go and stop whenever you want and bus and train delays won’t affect your itinerary. You can also rely on domestic flights, however, only do this if the destination is further than a 6-hour drive.

If the distance is shorter than that, the flight will have to connect somewhere and will take more time. Just remember though, most cars in Italy are in manual transmission. You can reserve an automatic car if you do it in advance .

In the city, you can use city buses. Rome has a tramline that works great for tourists. You can also use taxis and ride-hailing apps. You can install MyTaxi and Uber on your phone to make booking easier.

What to pack

What you need to pack if you will be spending 2 weeks in Italy will depend on the season you plan to visit. In general, you’ll want to opt for lightweight and comfortable clothing. Since you will be doing a lot of walking and exploring, it would be easier on your part if you’re comfortable. 

A good pair of walking shoes is also ideal and actually recommended. And don’t forget to bring some form of a scarf to keep yourself covered when you enter churches and other sacred sites.

Due to Italy’s geographical shape, the weather throughout the country can be significantly different. It is also recommended that you research beforehand the climate for the specific region you are travelling to.

You don’t need to pack toiletries if you have limited space in your luggage. You can buy these when you land since most items, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, are heavy. But make sure you bring walking shoes or sandals that you already have broken into to avoid blisters.

We have a packing list for a 2-week trip which comes with a printable checklist that you can use for another trip too. We also have a packing list for a summer trip .

Language and currency

Italy’s official language is Italian. Most road signs are in Italian, and most locals speak this English. However, younger locals speak English and are happy to help especially in bigger cities. But it’s vital that you install a translation app on your phone to make things much easier.

Italy uses the Euro, and the ATMs will dispense this currency. The majority of the country is still a cash-based society. You can pay with your bank card in hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores. But for gas stations, food stalls, and entrance fees in parks – it’s best to use cash.

When you are dining, tipping is not required. But check the bill if it has a service charge included in your plan to give a tip for impeccable service.

Italy is a member of the EU and has the Schengen Area visa policy in place. For those who don’t qualify in a free visa, you must lodge your application in advance.

For US citizens, Canadians, New Zealanders, Australians, Japanese, South Koreans, Malaysians, and some countries in Latin America and the Middle East can travel to Italy without a visa for a maximum of 90 days stay (for both leisure and business travel).

You need to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months by the end of your intended trip. For those who require a visa, the conditions vary according to your country of origin. 

Other basic travel tips

Pinned map of top things to see in italy.

Click the icon on the top right to enlarge the map. Credit: map data: Google

2 WEEKS IN ITALY ITINERARY

Choosing where to go in Italy seems like an impossible feat. Each destination or city has something unique to offer that makes it worth spending time in.

Notably, you have to consider what kind of attractions you can see. This will enable you to find the right destination that would match your interests or the places you want to explore.

Below are different travel itineraries for Italy if you plan to spend around 14 days. Take a look at which one suits you best. You can also mix and match the cities that you like and create your own travel itinerary .

Itinerary #1: North – Venice, Bologna, Florence, Milan

The north of Italy has so much to offer. From culture to traditions, historical sites to tasty food, and of course, amazing attractions.

This itinerary is great if you have been to Italy before but only got to see one or two cities. This time, you probably can skip Venice and visit Trento instead, skip Milan and go to Genoa or Lake Como.

This region is also a great place to explore, especially if you love history, literature, music, arts, fashion, and food, and even plan to spend a semester here or take your uni at the popular uni city of Bologna (the food capital of Italy) or Pisa.

You will still have to either land in Venice or Milan since most flights, especially international flights will arrive here. You can take a bus, train, or pick up your rental car at the airport to start your exciting trip.

If you’re going to Milan, I highly recommend you take a day trip to Lake Como, Genoa, and Turin. All those places are only less than 2 hours from Miland and offer incredible sights and experiences.

Venice for 3 days

As one of the most coveted tourist destinations in the world, Venice is punctuated by the charm of its ancient canals. It is known by many names, including “The Floating City” and “The City of Canals”. 

Venice is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its architecture, artwork, and natural beauty. It is a sin to go to Italy and skip Venice. 

How to get here : Venice Marco Polo Airport is the main airport in the city. This is where you must fly if you are looking for flights from outside Italy. You can also get to Venice via train or cruise ship.

Bologna for 2 days

Bologna is known for many reasons, one of which is being a university city. Apart from that, this city also has impressive ancient churches and the location of a piano that Mozart used while he was studying in Italy.

Bologna is also the city you want to be in if you’re a foody. It’s the gastronomic capital of Italy, and many popular Italian dishes are hailed from this northern city.

How to get here : From Venice, you can take a 1.5-hour train south, Bolognia being the 4th stop. The service is run by Italo Treno and goes every 30-minutes. If you take the bus , that will take 2.5 hours (run by Flixbus). For those planning to drive, it’s a 1-2 hour journey.

Florence and Pisa for 4 days

As the capital city of the Tuscan region, Florence is one of the most romantic cities in Italy. This is mainly because of the abundance of Renaissance art and architecture .  It is the perfect place to go for those seeking cultural attractions.

You will be in awe of the awe-inspiring creations of Michaelangelo and Brunelleschi.

Four days is plenty of time in Florence . You can use one of the days by planning a day trip to Pisa, which is only an hour away and take a silly photo at the Learning Tower of Pisa.

If it’s been your dream to visit Cinque Terre, it’s only a 2 hours and 30 minutes drive from Florence. There are so many amazing photo spots in Cinque Terre for those into photography and of course, hiking.

How to get here : Florence is south of Bologna. The drive from Bologna to Florence is 1.5 hours, while the train will take about 40 minutes , and the bus is 1.5 hours.

There are two international airports in Tuscany that you can fly into to get to Florence: Galileo Galilei International Airport and Amerigo Vespucci Airport. You can also get to Florence via train from Italy or other parts of Europe. 

Milan for 5 days

As a city known for its “haute couture” image, Milan is showcased in the impressive architectural design in the cityscape. Indeed, the fashion week is held annually in this city, showcasing its style propensity. 

Milan is also considered an alpha global city as it is among the best in the fields of art, education, fashion, finance, design, and tourism. The city highlights include the Gothic Duomo.

How to get here : Milan is northwest of Florence. You can get there by your rented car, and the trip will take about 3-4 hours. There’s also a train which is only a 2-hour trip , and the bus is the longest, 4 hours. There is a direct 2-hour flight, the ticket usually costs $30-$50.

Malpensa Airport is the main hub for air transport to Milan. There are several flights daily from other parts of or outside Italy. There is also a train from Venice or Rome that travel daily to Milan. If the train is not an option, there are also coach services in Milan. 

Day trips from Milan : You have plenty of time in Milan, this means that you can easily take a day trip to many places. The most popular is to head to Lake Como. The other options that are less touristy are Turin and Genoa.

Turin is a less popular city an hour and a half away southwest of Milan. Here, you will see historical sites, and museums, and pretty much be in a metropolitan city that is the gateway to the Alps.

On the other hand, Genoa is a port city, about 2 hours south of Milan. If you have been to Marseille in France, some people would compare Genoa and Marseille and point out their similarities. This city has been a valuable maritime trade route for centuries. You can visit ancient sites, explore piazzas, and sign up for a boat tour.

Itinerary #2: South – Rome, Naples, Sicily

History lovers should definitely do this 2 weeks in Italy itinerary. It’s also perfect if you love the beach and plan to visit during summer to enjoy the famous Mediterranean Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

This travel itinerary for 2 weeks in Italy is slower, giving you ample time to enjoy the trip and soak up the beauty of southern Italy. It’s recommended o book your flight to land in Rome, where you’ll be starting your escapade.

When you land in Rome, you can pick up a rental car at the airport or decide later. It’s much easier to traverse through Rome by foot or bus; it might be smarter to plan using a rented car once you’re ready to leave Rome.

Rome for 3 days

As the capital of Italy, Rome is known for its religion and art.  No visit to Italy would be complete without including Rome in your list of places to go . This is where you will find The Vatican City, the world’s smallest city-state. It is also home to many spectacular ancient ruins, such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon. 

How to get here: There are two major airports in Rome: Ciampino and Fiumicino. There are daily flights direct from major cities in Europe and the US. You can also take the train from other parts of Italy, such as Florence. And many of the visitors that come to Italy do so via a cruise ship. 

Naples for 4 days

Known as the birthplace of pizza, Naples is soul-stirring with its affection for art and undeniable elegance. When you visit the city, don’t forget to sample this famed culinary creation that is now popular all over the world.

Everywhere you look in this city, you’ll land your eye on cultural assets in the form of castles, cathedrals, palaces, and squares. It is bustling with energy and history that makes you feel like you are being transported back in time. 

It’s recommended to plan to stay in Naples for 4-5 days. During this time, not only can you cover Naples but also take a trip to Pompeii, Salerno, Capri, Sorrento, and the stunning Amalfi Coast.

How to get here : A high-speed train travels daily from Rome to Naples. The travel time can take just over an hour. For those planning to drive their own car, the distance between Rome and Naples is a little over 2 hours, and a bus will take 2-3 hours. If you are flying from outside Italy, you must book a flight to Naples Airport.

Catania for 3 days

It’s time to bid the beautiful Naples goodbye and continue your journey to Catania. This southern city is popular for its Baroque architecture and UNESCO status. But it’s popular for being the home to Mount Etna.

Catania is on the island of Sicily – rich in history, culture, and traditions that are very different from the north or even central part of Italy. Although Catania doesn’t get as much love as Palermo, there’s an upside to that. For people who wish to get away from big crowds, but still, learn about Sicilian culture – Catania is the place.

This is also the place you want to go if you don’t care much about the beach and are a hiker enthusiast.

How to get here : There is a great distance between Naples and Catania. A drive will take 7-8 hours and the train journey is 8-9 hours. It’s much better to take a flight which is only an hour flight and costs $20-$30. You can always rent another car once you arrive at Catania Airport.

Palermo for 4 days

Palermo is a metropolitan and busy harbour coastal city on the island of Sicily, and its capital. It’s the most sought-after destination in southern Italy for a good reason. Palermo has lots of historical and ancient sites dating all the way back to the 12th century.

This location has one of the most stunning architecture in the country, while opera performances are a must-do here. For food lovers, you might want to try out seafood, pasta alla norma, arancini, and cannoli.

If you prefer relaxing on the beach, pack your swimsuit and sunscreen, then head to Mondello Beach, Lido Valdesi, Magaggiari Beach, and La Praiola. But for a more serene environment, check out Alcamo Marina Beach during the weekdays.

How to get here: From Catania, it’s a 2 hours and 30 minutes drive, the same as taking the train. The bus is also possible, which will be cheaper, but probably takes 3 hours ro 3 hr and 30 mins.

Itinerary #3: Popular spots – Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples

Italy is such an amazing 2-week holiday destination . It has history, beach, hiking, and of course food. This 2 weeks in Italy itinerary is easily the one for first-time visitors. You’ll get to see and explore the top attractions and cities of the country.

This itinerary is suitable for pretty much everyone as it highlights Italy’s history, magnificent architecture, scenic landscape, and tasty food, which you can wash down with yummy and affordable wine.

With this itinerary, it’s also recommended to rent a car. You won’t have to drive longer than 3-4 hours unless you add stops along the way.

I don’t think Venice really need an introduction. We’ve heard the titles, praise, and every adjective that describes a magical city. Start your Italy trip by landing in Venice, renting out a gondola and visiting its waterway canals.

On land, you can pay a visit to its historical sites and simply admire its beauty. Don’t forget to sit down in one of the street restaurants and order a nice cup of coffee or pick up a delicious gelato.

You shouldn’t have a hard time getting to Venice. If you’re coming all the way from Latin America, Asia, or Africa, you might have to connect in Rome or other major cities in Europe, such as London, Paris, and Amsterdam.

Florence is the home of Renaissance art, architecture, and monuments. The Uffizi Gallery houses the famous “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli, “Coronation of the Virgin” by Fra Angelico, and “Laocoon and his Sons” by Baccio Bandinelli.

Known for its iconic Leaning Tower, Pisa is a common day trip from Florence. It is a must-add to your 3-week itinerary in Italy.

It belongs to the region of Tuscany. Pisa is home to more than 20 historic churches, palaces, bridges, and other medieval structures. It is also known as a university town in the Tuscan region. 

How to get there : If you are travelling from within Italy, the train is the fastest way to get to Florence Pisa. It is only a 3-hour drive from Venice to Florence, the train will take 2-3 hours.

Unfortunately, there is no direct flight. In comparison, Pisa is only an hour away from Florence. The Pisa International Airport (also known as Galileo Galilei Airport) is the main airport to fly into to get to Pisa. 

The next destination is the glorious Rome! It’s the capital city of Italy and remains the most visited city in Italy. Spend your days wandering through the ancient yet well-preserved walls of the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain.

Then find yourself a nice little restaurant or pick up a slice of pizza on the street and enjoy Rome’s unique atmosphere.

How to get here : Rome is only 1 hour and a 30-minute high-speed train ride from Florence. The drive will take 3 hours, and a direct flight is not available.

Naples is the lovely and ideal place to finish your 2 weeks in Italy trip. It’s located in the most admirable coastal region of the country. Have you heard of the names Capri, Amalfi Coast and Sorrento? These two small towns are Italy’s pride when it comes to splendid and romantic beaches.

Apart from Naples’ excellent beaches, it’s also a great location for hiking, which you don’t get the chance to do in the other Italian cities you have been to. The best hikes you can do in Naples are Punta Campanella, Pineta di San Costanzo, and of course, Vesuvio National Park.

How to get here : Driving from Rome to Naples will take a bit over 2 hours up to 2 hours and 30 minutes. The train will take a bit over an hour. Again, there are no direct flights between these two cities.

Naples is a very popular city in Italy. Finding a flight from here, either back home or to your next destination, should not be too hard. You can also easily fly from here to major European cities where intercontinental flights are available.

Itinerary #4: Away from tourists – Florence, Rimini, San Marino, Pescara, Viste

This final itinerary for 14 days in Italy is suitable for people who want to get away from tourists and most likely have been to Italy before. This travel plan highlights equally beautiful destinations and is worth exploring as other parts of the country.

You will get to visit cathedrals, archaeological sites, historical landmarks, beaches, vineyards, enjoy hiking, and do a day trip to San Marino. It is an independent country in the middle of Italy located in the northeast of the country.

I highly recommend renting a car for this travel plan since public transportation between less-touristic destinations can be unreliable.

Florence for 2-3 days

You will still have to arrive in a big city since these are the ones serviced by international airlines. You can either land in Florence or Rome, spend a few days gathering yourself, get local currency, and plan how to get to your next destination.

1-2 days would be ideal, especially if you are doing an intercontinental flight and want to catch up with sleep or arrange a rented car.

If you’ve never been to Florence, this city will surprise you in many ways. You can do incredible hikes around Florence, such as Palazzo Vecchio – Santa Croce Loop, Via Degli Dei, and Parco del Mensola. You can also simply walk downtown, explore quaint Italian alleys, and visit local markets.

Rimini and San Marino for 4 days

Rimini is situated in the Emilia-Romagna region, east of Florence. It’s a coastal city facing the Adriatic Sea. The beaches of Rimini are less busy than the ones in Naples. You can easily find a nice spot and just relax.

This place also has pretty interesting historical sites, such as the 15th-century Malatestiano Temple, located south of the city.

4 days is plenty, meaning you can afford a day trip and visit San Marino. It is an independent state that is landlocked in Italy. Wander through its city centre (San Marino), which is covered in cobbled stones and surrounded by traditional houses giving such a Medieval atmosphere.

This country is a favourite for professional cyclists due to its hilly roads and lack of flat ground. Many professional cyclists live here but also use this as an awesome training spot; it’s the equivalent of the country Andorra which is located on the border between France and Spain.

How to get here : Rimini is 237 km (147 miles) east of Florence, about a 2-3 hour drive; the train or bus will take about the same time. but you will be required to change carriage or bus in Bologna.

Pescara/Abruzzo for 3 days

Pescara is a nice and calming coast directly east of Rome, south of Rimini. It’s part of the magnificent region of Abruzzo. This region boasts rich vineyards, a church located on the hill that overviews snow-capped mountains, and a fantastic food culture.

Abruzzo produces olive oil, pasta sauce, pasta, and yummy jams. If you’re coming in summer, you might catch a food festival filled with local produce and artisan products.

There are also plenty of hike opportunities around Abruzzo, where you can visit ancient ruins, and beautiful national parks, and explore the walled city of L’Aquila, which was damaged in 2009 due to the earthquake.

How to get here: Pescara is 250 km (160 miles) south of Rimini. The drive will take about 2.5 hours, the same as the train.

Vieste for 4 days

To finish off your 2 weeks in Italy, you will be doing lots of hiking that are not too known to international visitors. You will get to hike, swim, and enjoy authentic Italian dishes for 4 glorious days. You will also visit a museum that displays unique shells and marine fossils downtown.

Gargano National Park is a wetland region with awe-inspiring valleys. It’s also located along the coast adding such a dramatic and stunning view of the Adriatic Sea. I recommend you base yourself at Vieste, a beach town and the most eastern point of the region and the location of the monolith reef of Pizzomunno.

But remember, during peak season, this area can still be busy due to local visitors and an influx of international tourists. But if you visit at the end of summer or just before it starts, you will be able to find tranquillity – an ideal way to end your trip.

How to get here : The distance between Pescara and Vieste is around 227 km (141 miles). The journey by car will take 3 hours; if you take the bus, it will be around 5-6 hours. Unfortunately, there are no train lines here.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN ITALY

Next is a list of the top attractions and sites you must visit in Italy. It’s arranged by the city to help your planning.

• Explore the city centre – do a walking tour or a guided e-bike tour
• Piazza Maggiore
• Torre degli Asinelli – get an entrance ticket and food tasting option
• Fountain of Neptune
• Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca
• Basilica di San Petronio
• Basilica of San Domenico
• Ferrari Lamborghini – visit the factory and museums
• Palazzo d’Accursio
• Pinacoteca Nazionale
• Certosa di Bologna
• It’s the food capital; don’t miss food tours such as home cooking class or self-guided food tasting or visit a Bologna food factory or do a walking food tour or a classic food tour with a local or Emilia Romagna food tour
• Castello Ursino
• Day trip to Sicily – and see The Godfather filming locations
• Villa Bellini/Chiosco Bellini
• Go on a sailing trip – read the tour reviews or Cyclops cruise and snorkelling
• Cattedrale di Sant’Agata
• Winery tour – 6-hour wine and food tasting or Mount Eta with wine and Alcantara tour
• Teatro Amssimo Bellini
• Food tour – do a cooking class
• Fountain of the Elephant
• Mount Etna – explore with 4×4 or do a morning Etna trip or Mount Etna and Taormina Village or Etna sunset tour or Mount Etna summit hike with cable car
• Riserva Naturale Oasi del Simeto
• Day trip to Syracuse – including Noto Culture tour
• Uffizi Gallery – buy an affordable skip-the-line tour in advance
• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
• Pallazo Vecchio
• David of Michaelangelo
• Pitti Palace
• Accademia Gallery and Brunelleschi Dome
• Piazzale Michaelangelo
• Forteza da Basso
• Chianti Wineries – vineyard and wine tasting tour
• Basilica of Santa Croce
• Cinque Terre hike from Florence
• Ponte Vecchio
• Join a handmade pasta and dessert cooking class
• Piazza del Duomo
• The Boboli Gardens
• Teatro Alla Scala
• Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci
• Duomo di Milano /Milan Cathedral – get a skip-the-line ticket
• Sempione Park
• Pinacoteca di Brera
• Sforzesco Castle /Sforza Castle
• Lake Maggiore
• Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio
• Santa Maria delle Grazie – Da Vinci’s Last Supper Tour
• Arco Della Pace
• Lake Como with Bellagio tour from Milan
• Aero Gravity – open from 10 AM – 10.30 PM
• All’Antico Vinaio – a great sandwich shop for a quick bite or join a Milan food tour
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II or Corso Garibaldi – streets for many dining options
• Best to use Milan 48-hour pass – free entrance to museums, discounts on restaurants, and transportation perks
• Milan hop-on hop-off bus tour

Naples and around

• Naples hop-on hop-off bus tour
• Naples National Archaeological
• Castel Nuovo
• Royal Palace of Naples
• Climbing Mount Vesuvius
• Piazza del Plebiscito
• Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte
• Anacapri/Capri Island
• Bourbon Tunnel tour
• Amalfi Coast
• Ruins of Pompeii – including the Casa del Fauno, the Temple of Apollo, the Amphitheater, and the Temple of Jupiter – book a combo tour
• Grotta dello Smeraldo
• Museo Correale di Terranova
• Bagni Regina Giovanna
• Veiled Christ – located in Cappella Sansevero
• Fiordo di Furore
• Visit Catacombe di San Gennaro
• Herculaneum
• Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi full-day tour
• Castel dell Ovo is a sea-bound castle
• Naples Underground tour
• Spiaggia Marina Grande
• Villa Jovis
• Naples food tour
• Cattedrale di Palermo
• Spiaggia Vergine Maria
• Catacombe dei Cappuccini – catacomb and Monreale half-day tour
• Massimo Theater
• Quattro Canti
• Go sailing – join a half-day trip with snacks and drinks
• Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio
• Fontana Pretoria
• Mafia tour – read the reviews
• Norman Palace
• Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel
• Vintage Fiat 500 – check the tour cost
• Castello della Zisa
• Riserva Naturale di Capo Gallo
• Day trip to Segesta, Erice, and Salt Pans – full-day excursion
• Baia di San Cataldo
• Explore the food scene – book a street food walking tour or a night food tour or a food tour with walking tour or pizza and gelato-making class or a pasta and tiramisu class
• Ponte del Mare
• Museo delle Genti d’Abruzzo
• Gabriele D’Annunzio’s Birthplace Musuem
• Piazza della Rinascita
• Nature REserve Pineta Dannuziana
• Museo Archeologico Nazionale d’Abruzzo
• Castle of Roccascalegna
• Monte Amaro/Maiella
• Spiaggia di Valle Grotte
• Leaning Tower of Pisa – get an entrance ticket
• Lungarno di Pisa
• Explore Pisa – get an all-inclusive guided tour or do a bike tour
• Santa Maria Della Spina
• Marina di Pisa
• Square or Miracles Monuments – check the tour cost
• Monte Pisano
• Day trip to Cinque Terre – check the itinerary
• Pisa Cathedral – do a guided tour
• Iglesia de Santa Maria della Spina
• Day trip to Chianti wine tour – read the reviews
• Book a food tour
• Borhese Gallery and Museum
• Piazza del Popolo
• Villa Borghese
• Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill – buy a combo ticket
• Piazza Navona
• Baths of Caracalla
• Vatican City, Vatican Museums – get yourself a skip-the-line ticket
• Altar of the Fatherland
• St. Peter’s Basilica – join a St. Peter’s Basilica to Underground Grotto tour
• Castle Saint Angelo or Mausoleum of Hadrian
• Spanish Steps
• Trevi Fountain
• Rome food tour
• Vatican and Rome City Pass with free use of transportation
• Venetian Arsenal
• Ca’ Rezzonico
• Basilica S.Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
• St Mark’s Basilica – buy a skip-the-line tour with terrace access
• St. Mark’s Square
• Venice Lido
• St. Mark’s Campanile
• Doge’s Palace
• Rialto Bridge
• San Marco Campanile
• San Giorgio Maggiore
• Venice’s Grand Canal Gondola tour
• Gallerie dell’ Accademia
• Don’t miss a Venice street food tour
• Spiaggia di San Lorenzo
• Scalinata dell’amore
• Monolite Pizzomunno
• Museo Malacologico Vieste
• Vieste Lighthouse
• Spiaggia di Scialmarino
• Riserva naturale Foresta Umbra
• Vicolo del Bacio
• Hike Coppa d’Incero

MUST-TRY ITALIAN DISHES, DRINKS, AND SNACKS

Food in Italy is like a great conquest. The challenge is being able to try all the must-eat foods within 2 weeks in Italy. Indeed, a country known for its culinary history requires you to taste as much as it can offer. 

Every region or city in Italy is known for its respective dishes. Thus, it is a must to sample them when you visit each city. Below is a list of the recommended dishes you cannot leave Italy without trying.

Probably the single dish that unifies and represents Italy as a country to the world, Pizza is easy, cheap, and very filling. This is probably why it easily grew in popularity in other parts of the world. 

Today, you will find a variety of pizza toppings. The classic Italian pizza is simply made with mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, tomato slices, and basil leaves. 

Risotto originated in central-northern Italy and is now one of the most iconic Italian dishes, Risotto is made with short-grain rice that is slowly cooked with a creamy texture. Various ingredients are used for making risotto, including mushrooms, seafood, and saffron. 

Bruschetta Al Pomodoro

Bruschetta al Pomodoro (or tomato bruschetta) is one of many vegan options available in Italy . It is one of the must-try dishes in Italy because of the main ingredients representing the country – tomato and basil. The bread is char-grilled to give it that crunchy exterior to contrast the tomato and basil topping.

You simply cannot leave Italy without consuming their world-famous gelato. A scoop or two is perfect to relieve the heat during an Italian summer day. 

There are also a variety of gelatos to choose from, and you can find vegan options. The velvety texture of the gelato is smoother than regular ice cream. 

ACCOMMODATIONS (per city)

To help you plan your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary, here’s a list of recommended places you can stay depending on your budget arranged by city. Whether you’re a backpacker, an average traveller, or a luxury seeker, there’s something for everyone.

• Affordable: Casa Isolani Pizza Maggiore or Denise B&B
• Mid-range: Casa Isolani or A San Lazzaro Rooms
• Luxury: Art Hotel Commercianti or Hotel Corona d’Oro or NH Bologna De La Gare or Starhotels Excelsoir
• Affordable: Domoikos or Hotel Sofia
• Mid-range: B&B Stesicoro or Liberty Hotel
• Luxury: Palace Catania or B&B Palazzo Cerami or 81 Suite and Breakfast
• Mid-range: hu Firenze Camping in Town or B&B Home
• Luxury: Hotel De La Ville or Hotel della Signoria
• Affordable: Lion Hostel or Matteo Guest House
• Mid-range: Starhotel Business Palace pr Cesena3 Plus
• Luxury: Palazzo Cornalia or Hotel Manin
• Affordable: Los Mochileros Hostel or Naples Experience Hostel
• Mid-range: B&B Vesu or Raggio di Sole 2
• Luxury: Macchiato Suites or Relais della Porta
• Affordable: B&B Vivere Palermo or Teatro Del Sole Apartment or B&B Hotel Quattro Canti
• Mid-range: La Maison del Sole or Vittorio Emanuele Rooms or InCanto
• Luxury: Palazzo Santamarina or Duca di Villena or Quintocanto Hotel & Spa
• Affordable: B&B Hotel Pescara or Dimora Novecento
• Mid-range: Villa L’Aurora or Marini Bed&Breakfast or Aron Only Suites B&B or Corso 84 Suites
• Luxury: Wood Luxury House or Smartfit House or Villa Alba Luxury Resort
• Affordable: Ariminum Hotel or Card International Hotel
• Mid-range: Hotel Gabbiano or Hotel Baby
• Luxury: Savoia Hotel or Hotel Aria or Le Rose Suite Hotel or i-Suite Hotel
• Affordable: Residenza Laterano or Affittacamere de Barby
• Mid-range: Villa Paganini or Walker Guest House
• Luxury: Dimora ai Fori or Tree Charme Parliament Boutique
• Mid-range: Al Portico Guest House or Hotel Principe
• Luxury: Carnival Palace or Hotel Dell’Opera
• Affordable: Rocca Sul Mare Hotel or Quintessenza – Charme Rooms
• Mid-range: Agriturismo Posta Pastorella or La Duchessa e Il Contadino
• Luxury: Suite Mozart or B&B Armonia Vieste

SUMMARY OF 2 WEEKS IN ITALY

Italy is one of the most popular countries for tourism. But just when you think you know all there is to know about Italy, it surprises you. When you visit Italy, use the information above to help you plan for your trip.

But also come with an open mind because you will discover more hidden gems along the way, which isn’t always bad.

2 weeks in Italy might not sound like a lot, because it’s not. However, there are many ways to explore this country. I don’t recommend trying to overload your itinerary as you won’t have time to enjoy, slow down, and process everything you see.

It’s better to focus on one region or area and leave something for your next visit. Because after this trip, I’m sure you’ll be back.

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2 Weeks In Italy Itinerary, The Ultimate Italy Road Trip

Planning a trip to Italy for 2 weeks? You are at the right spot! I’ve been exploring Italy for decades. So I have all the hands on experience and tips to give you the best 2 weeks in Italy itinerary. 

Italy is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and is home to some of the most beautiful towns, cities, and experiences on offer in Europe.

Italy is probably my favorite country to travel in. You’re engulfed in history, can admire some of the world’s best art, and eat some of the world’s best food. What could be better?

Overview Of 2 Weeks In Italy Itinerary

This 2 week Italy road trip itinerary starts in Venice and ends in Naples. It’s a perfect itinerary for first time visitors to Italy.

Venice’s airport is terrific and typically inexpensive to fly into. The city’s Santa Lucia and Mestre train stations connect to just about everything south with high speed service. 

You can pick up your car leaving Venice or leaving Bologna. Alternatively, you can also do the entire 2 weeks in Italy by train.

With this Italy itinerary, you’ll have 5 bases: (1) Venice; (2) Bologna; (3) Florence; (4) Rome; and (5) Naples.

If you need a break from the city, instead of staying in Naples, you can base yourself on the Amalfi coast for 3 days and day trip from there.

The cliff top town of Sorrento makes a perfect springboard for visiting the Amalfi Coast. From there, you can day trip to Pompeii, Positano, Capri, and even Naples.

• Day 1 : Venice
• Day 2 : Venice
• Day 3 : Bologna
• Day 4 : Bologna, day trip to Parma or Modena
• Day 5 : Florence
• Day 6 : Florence
• Day 7 : Florence, day trip to Siena
• Day 8 : Rome
• Day 9 : Rome
• Day 10 : Rome, Vatican City
• Day 11 : Rome, day trip to Orvieto
• Day 12 : Naples
• Day 13 : Naples, day trip to Pompeii
• Day 14 : Naples, day trip to Amalfi Coast

Where To Stay With 2 Weeks In Italy

Here are my hotel recommendations for the cities listed as bases.

Venice : Gritti Palace , Hotel Danieli , St. Regis , Aman Venice (my favorite), Bauer Palazzo

Bologna : Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni (my pick) Il Portici , Art Hotel Orologio

Florence : Il Touranbouni ,  Hotel Brunelleschi , Portrait Firenze , Palazzo Vecchietti , Villa Cora (my favorite in the Oltrarno)

Rome : Li b ert y Boutique Hotel ,  H o t el  M aalat ,  De co  Ro ma ,  Hotel H a s s ler Roma , Pa lazzo Man fr edi  (my favorite)

Naples : Grand Hotel Vesuvio , Romeo Hotel , Hotel San Francesco al Monte (my pick)

2 Weeks In Italy Itinerary: 14 Days Of Exploring

Ok, let’s dive right into this 2 week Italy itinerary. If you’re landing in Venice, the easiest way to get to the city is via a private water taxi transfer .

Day 1: Venice

Kick off your 2 weeks in Italy in the magical floating city of Venice. Even though Venice is very touristy, there’s a reason for its popularity.

Venice is a natural film set. It’s like no other city in the world.

Start your day in Piazza San Marco. Visit the pink marble Doge’s Palace, which is the very symbol of Venice.

You can traipse up the famed Scala d’Oro, the world’s fanciest staircase, admire the Doge’s apartments, and see the world’s largest painting by Titian.

Click   here  to book a skip the line ticket to avoid a long queue. I also loved the Secret Itineraries Tour , which take you to secret spots in the palace you can’t see on a regular tour.

Then, move on to one of the world’s most unique and stunning churches, St. Mark’s Basilica. It’s absolutely essential to book a skip the queue ticket . You can also purchase an  after hours ticket  for fewer crowds and to get access to some places you can’t see during the day.

The basilica is famous for its almost blinding golden mosaics from the 5th century B.C. They blanket the walls, covering 90,000 square feet.

Then, take a ride along the Grand Canal. It’s one of the most iconic things to do in Venice. You can also hop on and off the Vaporetto yourself.

Along the way, you can check out Ca’Rezzonico, Ca’ Foscari, and Ca’ d’Oro. In addition to housing some great art, the palaces offer up great views of Venice.

You can book a  1 hour guided boat tour . You can also book a  3 hour guided tour   of the St. Mark’s area that comes with a boat cruise.

Day 2: Venice

On day 2 in Venice, take a stroll through the Rialto neighborhood. Snap a classic shot on the Rialto Bridge, check out the Fish Market, and myriad shops. You can also take a  lunchtime tour of the Rialto Market and other foodie hot spots .

Next, head to the Dorsoduro neighborhood. Stroll around the pretty streets, check out the shops and eateries, and then go to one of the neighborhood museums.

The two I love are the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Galleria Accademia .

The Guggenheim is for people who want to see some of the greatest works of modern art from the 20th century. It’s a star studded lineup compiled by the eccentric American heiress, who helped launch Jackson Pollock’s career.

This museum will be packed. Click  here  to purchase a skip the line ticket. Click  here  to book a private guided tour of this extraordinary collection of art.

The Galleria Academia is for travelers who love old masters. It houses the world’s best collection of pre-19th century Venetian painting. You’ll find works by luminaries such as Veronese, Titian, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, Bellini, Canaletto, and Giorgione. 

The museum is not usually crowded, so you won’t have to worry about buying tickets in advance. But, if you’re a fan of Renaissance art, you may want to book a 2 hour  guided tour of the museum .

If you want to see the “Sistine Chapel of Venice,” head to the San Polo district to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. It’s decorated wall to walk with dramatic paintings by Titian.

Then, spend some time in the Cannaregio district. you can escape the crowds, poke in and out of cute lanes, and grab some cicchetti , Venice’s version of tapas.

Cannaregio is an excellent neighborhood to sign up for a   f ood and  wine  tour . You can also book an  evening food tour and gondola ride .

For more information, you can check out my 2 days in Venice itinerary . It has detailed information on gondola rides, how to use the vaporetto, and how to get to the other Venetian islands in the lagoon.

Day 3: Bologna

On day 3, head to beautiful Bologna. This food-loving city is underrated and absolutely deserving of a spot on your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary. It’s sandwiched between 3 major cities — Venice, Florence, and Milan — and is often skipped.

Don’t skip it! To me, Bologna just oozes old world medieval charm.

It has all of the charm of Italy with none of the tourists! Bologna is filled with striking architecture, beautiful piazzas, endlessly photogenic streets, porticos, and a swathe of palaces and towers.

Most of the must see attractions are clustered in or around the city’s main square, Piazza Maggiore. On one end of the piazza is the massive Basilica of San Petronio, honoring Bologna’s patron saint. On the other is the swishy Palazzo dei Rei Enzo.

You can also climb Bologna’s leaning tower, Asinelli Tower, for views. Since it’s a rickety 500 steps to the top, you’ll deserve a gelato afterward.

Be sure to meander through shops in Bologna’s medieval Quadrilatero neighborhood. You can also visit FICO Eataly World . It’s part farm and part theme park, with 20 acres of food and livestock stalls, restaurants, grocery stores, and food labs.

There are lots of fun tours to take in Bologna. Naturally, most of them food related:

• classic food tour
• 3 hour FICO Eataly food and wine tour
• food tour with factory visits and a gourmet lunch
• history tour and learn food secrets
• e-bike tour with cheese and wine

Day 4: Bologna, Day Trip To Parma & Modena

On day 4, take a day trip from Bologna to either Parma or Modena. Both are foodie towns that are pretty and un-touristy.

Underrated Parma is just too cute for words. It’s one of Italy’s most beautiful cities , a foodie haven, and home to the greatest works of the famed Renaissance artist Correggio.

Parma has a gorgeous Romanesque cathedral and pretty pink octagonal Baptistery. The entire town is dotted with red, pink, and yellow walls. Purple flowers decorate the Ponte Verdi.

Parma is tailor made for art lovers. The town was home to Correggio, the opera composer Giuseppe Verdi, and the conductor Toscanini. In 2022, Parma was chosen as Italy’s Capital of Culture.

Precious frescos by Correggio literally blanket the city. There are art-filled palaces, a famous opera house, and a world class museum.

Parma will also appeal to traveling foodies. It’s home to some of Italy’s best known culinary products — parmesan cheese, prosciutto, fresh pasta, and other delicacies. All this goodness has led the town to be dubbed the heart of the “Italian Food Valley.”

You can easily spend one day in Parma just popping in and out of food shops, taking a food tour, and having some memorable meals. Check out these cool food tours in Parma:

• 5 hour prosciutto and parmesan tour
• 7 hour cheese, ham, and balsamic tour
• 3.5 hour traditional food tour
• 2 hour tour of parmesan cheese factory
• 2 hour tour of dairy and prosciutto factory

Modena is a hidden gem in Italy , an elegant little city that’s well worth a visit.

If you’ve heard of Modena, it’s probably because of its food. Modena is a foodie haven. It’s famous for hams, cheeses, and barrel aged balsamic vinegar. You can sample the dark elixir in shops around the town. 

But Modena isn’t just about food. Modena is beautiful and immaculate.

Piazza Grande is its eye catching main square. It’s home to several monuments, including a Duomo, town hall, a picturesque 15th century clock tower, and medieval relics.

The 12th century Duomo is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture. It comes complete with a slightly leaning bell tower called the “Ghirlandina.”

Modena was also the birthplace of Luciano Pavarotti. His titular museum,  Luciano Pavarotti Museum ,  is located about 20 minutes from city center on the estate where the famous tenor lived.

Since Modena is for foodies, you may want to book a  guided food tour , do a  balsamic vinegar tasting , or  tour Italy’s most famous cheese factory .

Modena is just a 45 minute drive from Bologna. You can also visit on an 8 hour guided day tour from Bologna.

Day 5: Florence

Ah Florence . It may be Italy’s most beloved city, even over Venice. The “Cradle of the Renaissance” is beautiful from every angle.

You can content yourself with just absorbing the beauty and street life. But there are so many amazing attractions in Florence, you won’t be able to resist them.

Start your day at one of Florence’s hotspots, the Galleria Academia . It’s home to the world’s most famous statue, Michelangelo’s David , and his prisoners.

The lines are epic here, so you should definitely pre-book a  skip the line timed entry ticket .You can also opt for a  1.5 hour guided tour with fast track ticket .

For even more Michelangelo, head to the Medici Chapels. Inside, you’ll see the over-the-top Prince’s Chapel and the New Sacristy with 7 Michelangelo sculptures.

You’ll need to  pre-book a ticket  with a time slot reservation. These fill up fast, so don’t delay. You can also book a  guided tour of the chapels . This isn’t a bad idea because there’s not much explanatory signage.

After lunch, it’s time to tackle the Florence Cathedral complex . This consists of 5 separate sites: Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi’s dome, the Baptistery, the Duomo Museum, and the Giotto Bell Tower. 

If you buy the  Brunelleschi ticket , you have entry to all the sites. You can only enter each attraction once, but you have 3 days to use the pass. I suggest you visit them all this afternoon. 

There’s a lot to absorb at these wonderful attractions. You may want to  book a guided tour  to get the full scoop.

Go the Duomo Museum first. It’s the best cathedral museum I’ve ever visited. It’s chock full of stunning statues by Donatello and will give you a primer on how Brunelleschi built the iconic dome of the cathedral.

I would climb either Brunelleschi’s dome or the Giotto bell tower. It might be a bit much to do both in one day.

Giotto’s bell tower might offer slightly better views. But, if you climb Brunelleschi’s dome, you can admire the Giorgio Vasari frescos on the way up.

In the evening, take a stroll through Piazza della Signoria and admire the statues in the piazza.

If you want, you can visit the Palazzo Vecchio (right in the square) in the evening because it’s open late. Inside, you’ll find Medici apartments, a Michelangelo sculpture, and room after room of Vasari frescos.

>>> Click here to book a skip the line ticket for Palazzo Vecchio

Day 6: Florence

On day 6 of you 2 weeks in Italy itinerary, begin with a visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce . It’s Florence’s most stunning church and a mausoleum for its most famous citizens.

The basilica opens at 9:30. You should arrive with a pre-purchased  skip the line ticket . You’ll have to dress modestly with knees and shoulders covered or you won’t be let in. They’re very strict on this score.

Click  here  to book a skip the line ticket for the basilica. You’ll need one in high season unless you can brave the lines. There’s so much to see that you may want to  book a guided tour of Santa Croce .

After Santa Croce, head to the  Uffizi Gallery . The gallery is Florence’s premiere museum and one of the best museums in the world. This is where you come to admire Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo.

The museum is huge and just stuffed with world famous masterpieces. You could spend hours there. The most popular rooms are the two Botticelli Rooms and the Raphael and Michelangelo Room.

You won’t be able to visit the Uffizi, almost in any season, without pre-booking a  skip the line timed entry ticket . Once inside, keep the ticket with you because they ask for it at several checkpoints.

You may want to book a guided tour of the museum. The last time I was there, I booked a  2+ hour private guided tour . My husband, who’s not an art lover necessarily, loved it!

After admiring the fine art, take a stroll through the Piazza della Repubblica and stroll over the iconic Ponte Vecchio. The bridge takes you to the Oltrarno neighborhood , which is a more authentic and less touristy part of Florence.

The main attraction here is the Pitti Palace . It’s another Medici palace stuffed with world class art. You’ll need to book a skip the line ticket in high season.

You should also hit one of Florence’s viewpoints for panoramic views of the city — Piazzale Michelangelo (or 10 minutes further uphill) San Miniato al Monte . I would opt for San Miniato. It’s less crowded and one of Florence’s most ancient buildings.

Have apertivo and dinner in the Oltrarno. I thought this neighborhood had some of Florence’s best restaurants. Check out my one day in Oltrarno itinerary for more details and restaurant ideas.

Day 7: Florence, Day Trip To Siena

It’s tough to leave Florence, I know, but Siena is also fabulous. It’s one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Italy and is effectively an open air museum.

Plus, Siena is full of first rate art and stunning architecture. It central square, Il Campo , is one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. This is where the annual Palio horse race is held.

You can admire the city’s art-laden  Siena Cathedral , gaze at a famous fresco cycle in the  Palazzo Pubblico , and stroll the vibrant streets full of artisan shops and boutiques.

You should  book a ticket to the Siena Cathedral complex . Then, I would add on a  ticket to the Palazzo Pubblico . It’s worth it just to see the stunning  Allegory of Good and Bad Government  frescos.

If you can, try to stay for dinner in the evening. The day trippers will be gone and you can stroll the pretty lanes in peace.

Siena is just a one hour drive from Florence. You can also  book a guided day tour   to save you the hassle of arranging transportation. This tour also takes you to the gorgeous medieval town of San Gimignano .

Day 8: Rome

From Florence, it’s time to move on to Rome, the Eternal City, where you’ll stay for 4 nights. I’ve been to Rome many times and written dozens of articles on the city, which you can check out on my Rome page .

On your first day, I would tour the imperial ruins. That includes the Colosseum , the Roman Forum , and Palatine Hill . I’ve linked my article on each place, which describe everything you can see at each stop.

You can’t really visit these sites without a skip the line ticket . You’ll also need to make a separate timed entry reservation for the Colosseum. There are plenty of tour options as well.

• 3 hour guided tour and entry to all 3 sites
• tickets & tour of all 3 sites + underground Colosseum access
• 4 hour private day tour of Ancient Rome
• skip the line private guided tour with an art historian
• skip the line private tour of all 3 sites + the underground Colosseum

When you’re done touring the ruins, head to the nearby Monti neighborhood for a stroll and lunch. You can also pop into the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore .

Then, head to Piazza Venetia. You can admire the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and take an elevator up for views.

Don’t miss the Capitoline Museums . It’s surely one of Rome’s ancient art museums . It boasts a vast repository of ancient sculpture that’s just incredible.

>>> Click here to book a ticket to the Capitoline Museums

In the evening take a stroll in Trastevere, Rome’s most beautiful neighborhood. You can admire the ochre colored buildings and ivy clad facades. This is also a great place to book a food and wine tour .

Day 9: Rome

On you next day in Rome, take a classic  walk through central Rome . You might consider booking a  3 hour walking tour  or  private walking tour to get the full historical backdrop on all the sites.

Start at Campo de’ Fiori and end at the Spanish steps. Along the way, you can stop to admire some of Rome’s most iconic monuments — Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Piazza Colonna, and the Trevi Fountain.

Grab some lunch and then head to Rome’s best museums, the Borghese Gallery. It’s one of the world’s greatest small museums. You’ll find the most famous sculptures of the Baroque artist Bernini and paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, and Correggio.

Here’s my  complete guide  to the Borghese Gallery . You’ve got to  pre-book a timed entry skip the line ticket  to visit this magnificent museum.

When you’re done admiring the art, I recommend heading over to the west side of the Borghese Gardens, towards the Piazza del Popolo. The view from the Pincio Terrace is quite beautiful, particularly at sunset.

Consider ending your day with a food tour. There are a bunch of great options:

• a  food tour of the trendy Testaccio district
• a  food tour in the off the beaten path Pratti district
• a   food tour in the beautiful Trastevere district
• a  market food tour and pizza class
• a   food and wine tour in the historic center

Day 10: Rome, Vatican City

On day 10 of 2 weeks in Italy, it’s time to explore Vatican City. I’ve written a detailed one day in Vatican City itinerary . So won’t repeat myself too much here.

St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums are heart and headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

St. Peter’s Basilica is the most famous church in Christendom. Designed by Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo, it’s a true Renaissance masterpiece.

The basilica is the burial place of St. Peter and past popes. It houses the famous Bernini Baldachine altar, scads of sculptures, and Michelangelo’s tragically beautiful  Pieta .

For a panoramic view of St. Peter’s Square and Rome, you should climb the dome. Here’s my complete  guide to St. Peter’s Basilica , with tips for visiting. You can take a  guided tour  of St. Peters. You can only visit the  underground grottos on a guided tour .

The Vatican Museums hold one of the world’s greatest art collections. Some of the most famous art works on the planet are there, including Michelangelo’s frescos in the Sistine Chapel .

You absolutely must pre-book a  skip the line ticket  for the Vatican. Or else you’ll be stuck in line for hours unless it’s the dead of winter.

Here are some sample Vatican tours you might consider taking:

• a  2.5 hour overview on a skip the line small group guided tour
• a  3 hour no  w ait tour that also includes the Raphael Rooms
• a  3.5 hour tour Vatican visit with a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica
• a  3 hour Friday night tour of the Vatican
• a  Vatican tour that includes a climb of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica

Day 11: Rome, Day Trip To Orvieto

Day 11 sees you day tripping to Orvieto, a hill town in southern Umbria . I personally just loved Orvieto and you can check out my one day in Orvieto itinerary for the full scoop.

Orvieto’s most famous attraction is its glamorous Duomo, Orvieto Cathedral . It has one of the most colorful and art-filled facades of any church in Italy. Inside, you’ll find one of the most famous fresco cycles in Italy by Luca Signorelli.

You’ll also want to take a stroll through Piazza della Repubblica and climb the Torre del Morro.

But part of the charm of Orvieto is just aimless strolling. Wherever you look in Orvieto, there’s a picturesque lane, quaint shop, or terrific displays of flowers.

Every once in awhile the medieval lanes part and you can glimpse a brilliant slice of the Umbrian countryside.

Last time I was in Orvieto, I booked a  2.5 hour guided private walking tour . My guide was Emma and she was excellent, making the cathedral and its beautiful art works come to life. 

You can also book a  3 hour small group walking tour  that includes the cathedral, the old town, and Orvieto’s underground.

Day 12: Naples

From Rome, venture on to Naples. It’s about 2.5 hours by car or 1:10 by train.

This Mediterranean capital is lorded over by the still-kicking Vesuvius volcano. Naples is unpretentious with chaotic streets, Baroque excess, and layers upon layers of history.

The historic center is brimming with striking architecture, fascinating museums, and lively piazzas.

Naples Cathedral has a 13th century Gothic church with Baroque frescos. The Santa Chiara Cloisters are simply gorgeous, with hand-painted Majorca tiles covering benches and columns. The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore is chock full of Greco-Roman ruins.

Art lovers will want to take the shuttle to the Capodimonte Museum , which is one of Italy’s best museum s . It features works by Caravaggio, Correggio, Masaccio, Titian, Raphael, El Greco, Bruegel, and Sebastiano del Piombo.

History buffs should head to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale , which is truly one of the world’s best archaeological museums. 

You can see original mosaics and frescoes from Pompeii and Herculaneum. The most famous piece is the  Farnese Bull , which once decorated Rome’s Baths of Caracalla . In high season, you’ll definitely need a skip the line ticket .

Naples is famous for its cafe culture and as the inventor of pizza. One of the most exquisite cafes is Caffe Gambrinus. For pizza, the two most famous spots are Gino Sorbillo and Antica Pizzeria da Michele.

Naturally, in Naples, you can go on a street food tour , take a walking tour of the street markets , or take a pizza making class .

As an alternative to basing yourself in Naples, you could stay in the Amalfi Coast instead and day trip into Naples to see the museums and sample the pizza.

READ : One Day In Naples Itinerary

Day 13: Naples, Day Trip To Pompeii

On day 13 of your 2 weeks in Italy, head to Pompeii. The site is Italy’s most famous archaeological treasure. It’s a 2,000 year old 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.

Today, you can see dazzling frescos in ancient abodes. The House of the Vet just opened to the public in January 2023 and the frescos in the Villa of Mysteries are newly restored.

It’s definitely easiest to visit Pompeii on guided day tour from Naples . I recommend this  guided walking tour with an archaeologist  to learn everything abut Pompeii. But if you can do it yourself, you’ll at least need to book a skip the line ticket .

I advise getting the longest and best tour possible so that you can see everything at Pompeii (the new frescos) and not just walk down the main drag, as some tours do.

For the complete scoop, here’s my complete guide to visiting Pompeii .

Day 14: Naples, Day Trip To Amalfi Coast

On your last day of 2 weeks in Italy, head to the Amalfi Coast. It’s a stunning 30 mile stretch of the Italian coast where cliffs tower above pebbly coves and villages cling to steep slopes.

One day isn’t much time to explore this area. And it isn’t easy to get to. You will drive down a precarious road and take ferries and buses.

With one day, if you take a guided day tour from Naples, you can more efficiently get a quick peak at Positano, Amalfi, and or Ravello.

Positano comes complete with sherbet colored cliffside homes, stunning beaches, and tiny cobbled lanes. It’s considered Amalfi’s most picturesque town, cut into a cliff with views galore.

Called the “mountain pearl,” Ravello is suspended between the sky and sea. Ravello is known for its stunning views. You can get them at the town’s two stunning medieval villas Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo.

Amalfi town is a lively port city. It’s known for the stunning Amalfi Cathedral , which is one of the most beautiful churches in Italy. You can visit the cloister, church, and the Diocesan Museum.

Positano and Sorrento are the most touristy towns. If you’d like to avoid crowds, you can try the towns of Ravello, Praiano, Maiori, or Minori.

Alternatively, you could visit the island of Capri from Naples. Capri is one of the most dazzling and seductive islands in the Mediterranean.

Capri is known for its soaring cliffs, shimmering emerald water, whitewashed towns, and historic landmarks. It’s a great place to hike. And it’s known for its natural wonder, the Blue Grotto.

You can take the ferry or get to Capri on a guided day tour from Naples .

Alternative 2 Weeks In Italy Itinerary

For a slightly different spin, here’s an alternative two weeks in Italy itinerary. This itinerary drops Bologna and gives you more time in southern Italy.

• Day 3 : Florence
• Day 4 : Florence
• Day 5 : Florence, day trip to Siena & San Gimignano
• Day 6 : Rome
• Day 7 : Rome
• Day 8 : Vatican City
• Day 9 : Rome, day trip to Orvieto & Civita di Bagnoregio
• Day 10 : Naples
• Day 11 : Naples, day trip to Pompeii
• Day 12 : Amalfi Coast
• Day 13 : Amalfi Coast, day trip to Capri
• Day 14 : Matera

Tips For Spending 2 Weeks In Italy

If you need tips for visiting Italy, you should check out some of my relevant articles:

• 40 tips for visiting Italy
• Tips for visiting Rome
• Tips for visiting Florence
• Tips for visiting Venice
• Tips for renting and driving a car in Europe

I hope you’ve enjoyed my 2 weeks in Italy itinerary. You may enjoy these other Italy travel guides and resources.

• 12 Ways To Spend 1 Week in Italy
• 5 Ways To Spend 1 Week In Sicily
• 10 Days in Southern Italy Itinerary
• 10 Day Tuscany Itinerary
• Tips For Visiting Italy
• 7 Day Road Trip From Venice To Milan
• 130+ Bucket List Experiences in Italy
• Historic Landmarks in Italy
• Most Beautiful Towns in Italy
• Best Museums in Rome
• Hidden Gems in Rome
• Best Museums in Florence

If you want to spend 2 weeks in Italy, pin it for later.

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Last Updated on October 17, 2023 by Leslie Livingston

2 Weeks in Italy: The Perfect 14 days Italy Itinerary for First Timers

Thinking of planning a trip to Italy? This 2 weeks in Italy itinerary will be a perfect guide to help you plan your Italy trip.

2 weeks in Italy is, in fact, the perfect amount of time to see the major cities of Rome, Florence and Venice along with some introductory visits to the mesmerizing regions of Tuscany, Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre.

Our own Italy trip and valuable inputs from our Worldwide Wander Community have helped us create this perfect 2 weeks Italy itinerary for first time visitors.

This Italy itinerary shall transport you back to ancient Roman times, make you bask in the Tuscan sun, sail the seas of Amalfi coast, admire the art in Florence, explore the untouched towns of Cinque Terre and traverse the canals of Venice.

All this, while continuously hogging on the best pasta, pizza, Tiramisu, pastries, Aperol Spritz and Limoncello in the world!  

You can follow this 14 days Italy travel guide step by step or simply use it as an inspiration to plan your own trip to Italy!

We’re sure you’ll have an amazing vacation in Italy and shall be planning your return at the end of your first trip itself!

To create the most balanced itinerary for 2 weeks in Italy, follow the outline of our suggested Italy itinerary for 14 days below:

• Day 0: Arrival
• Day 1 – 3: Rome
• Day 4 – 6: Amalfi Coast
• Day 7 – 9: Tuscany
• Day 10: Cinque Terre
• Day 11 – 13: Venice
• Milan 14 – Milan and departure

This article contains affiliate links. This means that we earn a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Kindly read our full disclosure and privacy policy for more details.

Also, if you refer the following Italy travel blog posts, you can upgrade a good Italy trip to a GREAT Italian Adventure!

• Our Complete 14 Days Italy Itinerary for an amazing first trip to Italy
• 1To Make the most of your time in Rome: A fully Packed 3 Days in Rome Itinerary
• Save Time and Money by following our Cinque Terre Itinerary that allows you to cover all the 5 villages in One Day!
• Absorb culture and beauty of Florence and the surrounding Region of Tuscany by copying our 3 Days Florence Itinerary
• A detailed guide to Venice and its surroundings by following our highly detailed 3 Days in Venice itinerary
• Explore the best of Milan in a single day with this perfectly planned One Day Milan itinerary
• Bring back a piece of Italy with you by shopping from this extensive list of Unique Italy Souvenirs

Quick overview

Day 0: Arrival and Acclimatization

You can start this 2 week Italy itinerary in either Milan or Rome and then follow along the chronology stated above.

In our experience, flight tickets to Rome are the cheapest. Hence, we recommend beginning your Italy trip from here.

However, if you find a great flight deal to Milan, you can follow this itinerary in reverse and it’ll be just as spectacular.

If you’re flying from a country outside Europe, your flight might be landing in Rome by late afternoon or early evening. It shall be impossible to go straight for sight-seeing in Rome considering the fatigue and jet-lag. Hence, use this day to relax, rejuvenate and freshen up for an amazing 3 days in Rome .

If you’re traveling from somewhere nearby, book your tickets in such a way that you reach Rome early in the morning. You can then drop your bags at the hotel, freshen up and start your 3 days in Rome immediately .

2 weeks in Italy Day 1-3 Rome

What better place to start your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary than the Eternal city itself. Rome drips of history from every corner and every cobblestoned street of its medieval infrastructure.

You can plan your Rome trip in the exact same fashion like we have illustrated in our fully packed 3 Days in Rome itinerary . Alternatively, you may take inspiration from it and plan according to your taste and preference.

Either which way, you must include the following must visit attractions and activities in your 3 days in Rome .

Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

The Colosseum is the biggest and the most iconic attraction of Rome. This ancient monument was the symbol of Rome’s grandeur and entertainment. It is the largest amphitheater in the world with a seating capacity of 50,000 spectators when it was operational.

Just beside the Colosseum is the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. The Roman forum was the center of all social, political, economic and religious life in ancient Rome. On the other side, the Palatine hill is regarded as the birth place of Rome with its own set of ruins and monuments to explore.

It is imperative that you buy a skip the line ticket to the Colosseum to avoid wasting your time in lines during your 3 days in Rome . The ticket includes skip the line entry to the Roman forum and Palatine hill as well .

To enhance your experience 10-fold, we recommend you buy this highly rated guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill . The guided tour shall help you optimize your time, click the best pictures for Instagram and leave you a lot more knowledgeable than you were before visiting Rome.

⏰ Recommended Time: 3 Hours

💶 Entry Fee: (queueing required at entrance) Adults: €16 | Youths aged 18-25: €2 | Everyone below 18 gets free entry. This Skip the line ticket is recommended

🧑🏻 Guided Tour: Colosseum Guided Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (⭐4.7/5 from 25,000 reviews)

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi fountain is the largest and most famous Baroque fountain in the world. It was built in the year 1762 over an ancient aqueduct.

The fountain is always swarming with tourists and crowds are almost impossible to avoid during the day. Hence, visit early in the morning around sunrise to get people free pictures with the beautiful fountain.

Toss a coin in the Trevi fountain with your right hand over your left shoulder. Legend has it that if you do so, you shall be returning to Rome in the near future.

⏰ Recommended Visit Time: Half an Hour

💶 Entry Fee: Absolutely free!

🧑🏻 Guided Tour: Guided tour of the Aqueduct beneath the Trevi Fountain (⭐4.7/5)

The Pantheon is the oldest preserved monument that you’ll come across during your 2 weeks in Italy. It was built in 27 BC by Marcus Agripa, the name you see carved at the entrance of the building.

The architecture of the building is so grand that it was publicly acknowledged by the world-renowned sculptor Michelangelo himself.

Entrance to the Pantheon is free. However, you might have to wait in lines and may not be able to admire the beauty of this masterpiece without a guide.

This highly rated guided tour of Pantheon takes care of both of the above problems!

⏰ Recommended Visit Time: 1 Hour

💶 Entry Fee: €5 from July, 2023. But guided tour is recommended to avoid wasting time in lines.

🧑🏻 Guided Tour: Pantheon Guided tour (⭐4.7/5)

Vatican City and Vatican Museums

Ah! The iconic Vatican City. The smallest country in the world and the residence of the Pope.

The Vatican City houses the famous Vatican museums and Gardens, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.

There are REALLY long lines at all of the above spots and buying the skip the line tickets is not only recommended but also insisted.

To better understand the beautiful art of the Vatican museum, get priority access and also get a secret entry to St. Peter’s Basilica, we recommend booking this official guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.

If you don’t book the above tour and just buy the skip the line tickets of the Vatican museums, you will still have to wait in long lines to enter St. Peter’s Basilica.

⏰ Recommended Visit Time

🏛 Vatican Museums: 2 Hours

⛪ St. Peter’s Basilica: 1 Hour

💶 Entry Fee

🏛 Vatican Museums: €17 for adults | Youth under 25: €8 | Free for Children under 6 years (queueing is required)

⛪ St. Peter’s Basilica: Free but queueing is required

🧑🏻 Guided Tour: Official guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica (⭐4.7/5)

We insist you to check out our fully-packed 3 days in Rome Itinerary to get a comprehensive list of all the things to do in Rome in 3 days . The itinerary has a detailed day wise guide and insider tips along with recommended restaurants and budget saving hacks. Also, if you’re a vegetarian like us, you can check out our favorite restaurants to find Vegetarian food in Rome .

2 weeks in Italy Day 4-6 Amalfi Coast

The next stop during your 2 weeks in Italy is the picturesque beach area of the Amalfi coast.

You shall be spending 3 days in this area covering the must visit towns of Sorrento, Positano and the island of Capri.

In order to keep this 2 weeks Italy itinerary convenient, smooth and budget friendly, we recommend basing yourself in Sorrento and then make day trips to Capri and Positano.

For travel between locations in Italy, trains are the cheapest and most efficient modes of transportation. Be sure to book your tickets in advance to get a cheaper rate and also ensure availability.

Another economical option is taking a bus. This is a good option in case you’re traveling between locations that don’t have direct train connections like from Rome to Sorrento.

Find the most competitive Rates for trains, buses and ride sharing in Italy here!

Italy Trip Day 4: Sorrento

As explained above, you need to base yourself in the beach town of Sorrento as it is the most convenient and most affordable of all the places to stay in Amalfi Coast.

How to reach Sorrento from Rome?

There are no direct trains from Rome to Sorrento, so you’ll have to take a train from Rome to Naples and then change for Sorrento. However, that involves a lot of hassle especially when you have heavy luggage with you.

On the other hand, you can do what we did and take the much more convenient option – the bus! It takes about 4 hours but the ride is very comfortable and there are no transfers involved.

Check out ticket prices for your travel dates here!

Things to do in Sorrento

Upon reaching Sorrento, check into your hotel and set out to explore the beautiful beach town.

You can stroll across the Marina Grande and enjoy its boardwalk atmosphere by having lunch at the many sea-facing restaurants.

 Post lunch, explore the vine covered Cloister of San Fresco. Then enjoy a beautiful sunset from Villa Comunale – a park and terrace above Marina Grande, with splendid views of the Gulf of Nalples and Mount Vesuvius .

This town is renowned for its lemons and the various lemon products it makes. Our favorite is the Limoncello, an alcoholic drink made from lemons and it is also one of the best souvenirs to bring from Italy.

Sorrento is the best place to buy Limoncello as the Limoncello here is authentic, locally made and much cheaper than other popular Amalfi Coast tourist towns like Positano and Capri.

Italy Trip Day 5: Positano

On Day 5 of your 14 days Italy itinerary, take the SITA bus from Sorrento to Positano. The ticket costs merely €2 and can be purchased from the tobacconists at the bottom staircase of Sorrento Station .

Make sure that you start early to avoid the crowds in the bus and sit on the right-hand side to enjoy beautiful coastal views of Amalfi during the ride. Starting early is a must because there have been cases where you might have to stand in the bus in case it is overbooked.

❕ Note: Avoid renting a car for your visit to Positano or Amalfi as the roads are a real challenge to drive on and you will have to park the car outside the villages. The parking rates are really steep due to a lack of space and are simply not worth it.

Positano is the most beautiful of the Amalfi coast villages. It still retains its small fishing village vibe unlike the recently well-developed Amalfi.

It has a great collection of cliffside restaurants, an abundant number of private beaches and beautiful nature trails to discover some of the best vantage points.

Explore the narrow cobblestoned lanes of the village, check out the cute boutique shops, try amazing Lemon Gelato and have drink at the many amazing restaurants overlooking the Mediterranean.

If you’re an avid hiker, you can hike the Path of the Gods. It is an 8 km long mule trail that connects the Amalfi villages and provides breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast.

If you don’t wish to limit this day just to Positano, you can book a chauffeured tour of the entire Amalfi coast like this one that takes you to the beautiful towns of Amalfi, Positano and Ravello.

Return to your hotel in Sorrento before dark to avoid being stranded the last few buses of the day leave around 8 but they get sold out and are often crowded. Buy your return ticket to Sorrento the moment you enter Positano.

Italy Trip Day 6: Capri

Capri is located a mere 20 min. ferry ride from Sorrento.

You can set off early in the morning before the crowds and reach Marina Grande. Book your return ticket in advance to avoid paying premium prices.

Upon reaching Capri, y ou will be heckled by a lot of ferry drivers for boat tours around Capri. These tours are often overpriced and a lot of our friends told us that they were sub-par.

 It’s better to book your excursion around Capri with a reputed company in advance. We booked this amazing Island Boat trip around Capri (⭐4.1/5). No matter who you book with, ensure that your boat trip includes the following stops:

• Punta Carena Lighthouse
• Bagni di Tiberio
• Sea caves of White Grotto and Green Grotto
• Faraglioni Rocks
• An optional visit to the Blue Grotto

❕ Note: The visit to the Blue grotto involves an additional fee of €14 to enter the grotto. Do not skip this. It is a surreal sea cave where the waters glow sapphire blow. The water is the only source of light in the damp, dark cave. It is definitely one of nature’s mysteries and a must visit during any trip to Capri.

⏰ Duration: 2 hours

🧑🏻 Recommended Tour: Capri Island Bat Trip and Blue Grotto Visit (⭐4.1/5)

If you wish swim or snorkel in the amazing blue waters near Capri or if you don’t wish to get into the hassle of taking a ferry to and from Capri, book this highly rated Small group boat tour of Capri from Sorrento (⭐4.8/5).

It includes all the spots mentioned above, a Limoncello tasting, appetizers and two amazing stops for swimming in the Capri waters!

On Capri island itself, explore the Agustus Gardens, ride the scenic chairlift to the top of Monte Solaro and explore the food scene of this tiny, beautiful island!

2 weeks in Italy Day 7-9 Tuscany

On day 7 of your 14 days Italy itinerary, take an early morning bus from Sorrento to Nalples train station . It costs barely €5 and saves a lot of time. You shall reach Naples by 8 AM. Have your breakfast at the convenient but amazing Café Vyta while you wait for your train.

From Naples, take the direct train to Florence and you shall be in the cultural city by noon!

Use the rest of the day to explore the city of Florence as stated below.

2 Weeks in Italy Day 7: Florence

You’ve arrived in noon. So, to make the best of your time, drop your luggage at your hotel and set out to explore Florence. We recommend covering the following locations on your first day.

You can also check out our detailed 3 Days in Florence Itinerary for information on how to get around and best area to stay in Florence, along with other things you can include in the below mentioned itinerary. For vegetarians like us, this detailed guide on finding Vegetarian food in Florence cannot be missed.

Accademia Gallery

You can’t be in Florence and not visit the Accademia! It houses the best sculptures by the renowned Italian Michelangelo, esp. the famous David! The Accademia is also Europe’s first school of drawing. Hence, it boasts of an extensive collection of paintings dating back to the 15 th century.

Book a timed entry ticket to The Accademia so that you don’t have to wait in lines and waste time on the 7 th day of your 14 days Italy itinerary.

As always, a guided tour definitely increases your experience manifold!

⏰ Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday | 8:15 AM to 7:15 PM daily. (last entry at 6:15 PM)

💶 Entry Fee: Check out the price for Timed Entry Ticket Here

🧑🏻 Guided Tour: Accademia Gallery and David Guided Tour (⭐4.5/5)

Florence Cathedral

After the Accademia Gallery, walk a mere 500m to the Florence Cathedral. Admire the beauty of this 13 th century Gothic Church with a majestic dome that adorns the city’s skyline!

The dome (Cupola), designed by Filippo Brunelleschi was an inspiration to many architects and artists during the Renaissance period .

Even more impressive is the fresco inside the Dome by Giorgio Vasari, called the Last Judgement.

Marvel at the beauty, intricacy and the grandeur of the architecture of the Florence Cathedral and don’t skip climbing up the dome! You will truly be able to admire the work that went into creating the Cupola and also get an unprecedented view of Florence.

Without skip the line tickets like this one , you shall not be able to visit the Cathedral on Day 7 of your Italy itinerary. So, make sure you book them in advance and witness the Italian sun set over Florence.

⏰Recommended Visit Time

⛪ Cathedral: 1.5 Hours

🛎 Dome: 1 Hour

💶 Entry Fee: Free for Cathedral | Recommended Skip the line Ticket for Dome and Cathedral

🧑🏻 Guided Tour: Duomo Cathedral Guided Tour (⭐4.1/5)

Piazza della Signoria

It’ll be almost sunset by the time you are done visiting the Duomo. Head to Piazza Della Signoria – one of the most artistic, sculpture-laden and happening squares in Florence.

Stroll across the beautiful square and admire the various sculptures like the Neptune Fountain, the replica of David and all other amazing sculptures in the Loggia ( public Sculpture Gallery).

If you have some time left, you can also visit the Pallazo Vechio.

Have dinner in the many amazing nearby restaurants and call in an early night.

2 Weeks in Italy Day 8: Florence and Tuscan Country side in the afternoon

For Day 8 of your two week Italy itinerary, book a tour to Tuscany like this highly rated Chianti Wineries with Food and Wine Tasting . This half day tour begins in the afternoon at about 2:30 PM. As a result, you get a great amount of time in the morning, to visit other epic attractions in Florence.

Start your day at 7 AM and visit the following attractions in the order provided:

Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens

Be one of the first people to enter Paitti Palace today and book a timed entrance ticket to the Pitti Palace . Witness the grandeur and beauty of the exterior of this lavish palace. Inside the Palace, visit the Galleria Palatina that was used by the Medici family as their residence.

Your ticket also provides you access to the Gallery of Modern Art that houses an exquisite collection of art from the 18 th century to World War 1.

Boboli Gardens are located directly behind the Pitti Palace. These gardens were one of the first examples of Italian landscaping which were later on emulated in many European sites.

The garden has artificial Grottos – stone caves, exquisite fountains, manicured lawns and hedges and marble sculptures throughout its vast landscape. It’s a great place for a picnic too!

⏰ Recommended Visit Time: 3 Hours

💶 Entry Fee: For Pitti Palace | For Boboli Gardens

Ponte Vechio

After spending an amazing morning in the Boboli gardens, take a walk across the Ponte Vechio.

The bridge is a work of spectacular engineering as it was the first segmental arch bride built in the West.

The Ponte Vechio is famous because of two very unique reasons:

• It is the only bridge n Florence that survived the bombing in World War II.
• It is the only bridge in the world where people still have a residence in!

That’s right, people live on this bridge!

Today, this bridge is full of jewelry stores and art dealers. Grab a gelato and make your way to our next stop the Uffizi Gallery

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi gallery is one of the oldest museums in Europe and houses one of the largest collections of Renaissance art in the world! You can see works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raffaello and many others. One of the most revered works of art are Boticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus .

Apart from the paintings and sculptures, the building of the Uffizi itself is greatly admired as a work of art.

Make sure you book a timed ticket to the Uffizi Gallery in advance as the tickets for your particular time slot generally sell out very fast.

⏰ Recommended Visit Time: 2 Hours

🧑🏻 Guided Tour: Uffizi Gallery Small Group Tour (⭐4.7/5)

You can visit all of the above 3 attractions in reverse order as well depending on what is closer to your hotel. Wither way, your target is to be free by 2 PM as that is when the pick up of you Chianti Vineyards tour is scheduled!

Chianti Wine Tour

You can’t come to the region of Tuscany and not visit the Tuscan countryside ! The region of Tuscany is famous around the world for its vineyards, olive plantations and the products that come from them.

You can easily spend an entire week exploring the little Tuscan villages on a 7 day Tuscany road trip. However, since we are short on time, we suggest booking a half day tour to one of the best vineyards in the region.

This Chianti wine tour includes pick up from Florence, wine tastings in two amazing vineyards, delicious cheeses, breads and cold cuts to pair your wine with a local guide.

If you have an entire day in Florence and wish to cover unique places like Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano along with Chianti, you can opt for this highly-rated Day trip that includes lunch !

The tours are cost effective and is probably the most efficient way to get a taste of Tuscany, so that you can plan an even longer trip later on!

🧑🏻 Guided Tours:

Half Day Chianti Wineries Tour with Food and Wine Tasting (⭐4.6/5)

Full Day Pisa, Siena, Sam Gimignano Day Trip with Lunch (⭐4.4/5)

If you still have time and wish to include more things to do in Florence or want more details on where to live in Florence or how to get around Florence, visit our detailed itinerary on spending 3 days in Florence .

Day 9: Pisa and Transit to La Spezia

Day 9 of your Italy trip involves visiting the beautiful town of Pisa and takes care of logistics to explore the magical area of Cinque Terre. Check out of your Florence hotel and take the train to Florence.

Find the most competitive prices of trains and buses here!

You can drop your luggage in Pisa Centrale station at the storage facility located at the end of Platform 1. The charges are as nominal as €3 for 12 hours.

Once you’ve dropped your luggage, head to the Piazza De Miracoli which houses all the major attractions of Pisa. Take the highly efficient LAM Rossa bus service that runs every 20 minutes .

At Piazza De Miracoli, show your skip the line ticket to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and head straight to the top of the Tower to enjoy unhindered views of the Pisa skyline.

If you arrive early during the day, you shall also be able to take people-free images with the Leaning Tower.

Visit other beautiful monuments in the Piazza De Miracoli like the Duomo (Cathedral), Baptistry di San Giovanni and Camposanto.

The entire trip would take around 3 hours . Post that, you can relax in the gardens or have lunch at a nearby restaurant. We personally loved the food at La Ghiotteria for their authentic Italian cuisine.

Transit to La Spezia

After lunch, collect your luggage at the train station and catch a train to La Spezia. La Spezia shall be your base for exploring the Cinque Terre.

We recommend staying in La Spezia as it is very well connected to all the villages of Cinque Terre by train and you can find better accommodation in La Spezia as compared to the overpriced ones in other Cinque Terre.

Book your hotel near the train station. We stayed at The Poet Hotel , one of the few 4-star hotels in the city very close to the La Spezia Centrale station. It is great value for money as well!

Before leaving the La Spezia Centrale Station collect your Cinque Terre Train Card from the ticket office for the next day.

For €16, this card not only provides unlimited train travel between all the stations but also provides access to ATC bus services, free use of public restrooms in the train stations, WiFi in park hotspots and access to hiking trails! Definitely worth it.

2 weeks in Italy Day 10: Cinque Terre

Spend your Day 10 in Italy exploring the colorful towns of Cinque Terre . You shall be visiting all the five main villages of Cinque Terre in one day by train in the order of your choice. Take the train from the La Spezia Centrale station and use your Cinque Terre train card for hassle free transit.

Each village provides a unique experience with the same cultural and scenic backdrop.

• Manarola: Our favorite town in Cinque Terre. It has exhilarating cliff jumping spots, is great for swimming, has treks to incredible vantage points of the village and amazing cliffside restaurants . A great place for lunch is Nessun Dorma. The Disney movie Luca was based on this little town.
• Corniglia: The town perched up higher than the others in the mountain.  Take the shuttle bus to the town from the station. In the village, grab the best Gelato in Cinque Terre at Alberto Gelateria and explore the narrow back alleys that lead to a breathtaking viewpoint .
• Vernazza: Explore the colorful streets, hike to the Doria tower for unprecedented views of the village, stroll across the jeti and swim in the clear waters in the northern part of the bay . Vernazza exudes a vibe that cannot be described in words.
• Monterosso: The largest of all the villages. It is the only village in Cinque Terre with an amazing sandy beach, ready with sun loungers, umbrellas and a board walk . Relax, get a foot massage and bask in the sun here.
• Riomaggiore: Walk through the tunnels to reach the town from the train station. It has an amazing, stoney jetti that provides post-card perfect views of the village. This is the best town to rent a kayak and go exploring the coast of Cinque Terre!

For a detailed guide and the most perfect way to explore all the towns, check out our detailed guide on visiting Cinque Terre in One Day !

Recommended Guided Day Trips

If you don’t wish to fall into the hassle of all the detailed planning , you can book this supremely convenient Cinque Terre Tour by Train that follows the same route as our 1 day Cinque Terre Itinerary. It also has additional benefits like a local guide and Limoncino tasting!

If you opted for a day trip to Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano on Day 9, you’re probably still in Florence . In that case, you can opt for this extremely highly-rated tour to Cinque Terre from Florence (⭐4.9/5) like a lot of tourists do. It is efficient, cost effective and covers all the highlights!

From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Tour by Train with Limoncino (⭐4.3/5)

From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Sailing Tour by Speedboat (⭐4.8/5)

From Florence: Cinque Terre Day Trip (⭐4.9/5)

❕ Note: Cinque Terre is a hilly town and exploring it requires a lot of walking and a lot of stairs. If you’re someone who has a problem with that, you should substitute these 2 days in Cinque Terre with a visit to Lake Como.

2 weeks in Italy Day 11-13: Venice

On Day 11 of your 2 weeks in Italy, you shall be going to Venice from La Spezia.

You can either make a train trip that involves two transfers or you can opt for a bus that drops you directly at Venice.

Check out the most competitive rates and timings of your bus and train tickets here!

Spend your 3 days in Venice exploring the beautiful city of Venice and enjoy the following attractions and must – do activities in Venice:

St. Mark’s Square, Basilica and Doge’s Palace

St. Mark’s square is the most popular square in Venice. It houses two of the most iconic sights of Venice – St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace.

In St. Mark’s Basilica, admire the beautiful golden mosaics covering the high walls and the Pala d’Oro, the spectacular altarpiece made from enamel and gold leaf.

Visit the Doge’s Palace, the seat from which the powerful family ruled the Republic of Venice. Book a skip the line ticket to Doge’s Palace (⭐4.6/5) and stroll across the majestic halls. Marvel at the masterpieces of art, frescoes and the Bridge of Sighs.

To enhance your experience, book this widely loved Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica Guided Tour (⭐4.6/5).

The Bridges of Venice

Exploring Venice on foot and getting lost in its alley ways is one of the best things to do in Venice.

What enhances this experience even more is the shear number of unique bridges in Venice.

Some of these bridges are architectural masterpieces, while others have unique story behind them. Explore Venice on foot and cross as many of these bridges.

The following are the best bridges in Venice for an Instagram shot:

• Rialto Bridge
• Ponte dell’Accademia
• Ponte degli Scalzi
• Ponte della Constituzione
• Ponte del Diavolo
• Ponte dei Tre Archi
• Ponte della Paglia

Gondola Ride

Gondola rides in the Grand Canal are so popular that they have become synonymous with a trip to Venice. However, they are a bit too expensive if you buy them on the spot.

During peak seasons, visitors have had to pay upwards of €100 per person for riding the Gondola on a shared basis! In order to avoid paying outrageous amounts of fees on the spot, we recommend booking a ticket in advance.

These are the following, most reasonably priced tickets available:

• For travelers on a budget: Join a group of 5 on this Gondola Ride with App Commentary (⭐4.2/5) to enjoy a Gondola ride at barely 30% of the cost.
• For Couples, groups, families and luxury travelers: Book a Private Gondola ride (⭐4.1/5) which can accommodate a group of 5. This is an ideal set up for couples and families. They can enjoy a Gondola ride privately, at their own pace and without paying the outrageous rates in Venice!

Burano, Murano and Torcello Islands

Ensure that you dedicate one day of your time in Venice to visiting nearby island villages in the lagoon. The villages of Burano, Murano and Torcello are some of the most beautiful and also the most popular!

Burano is a small fishing village that has a string of colorful houses on either side of the lagoon. It is a great spot for exploring hidden gems and getting some amazing shots for Instagram.

Murano is famous all over Italy for its glassware. You can visit a glass factory and see the entire process of crystal-making from scratch!

Torcello is another quaint little town with medieval architecture and a beautiful vibe. One of the main attractions of Torcello are the Venetian-Byzantine Mosaics of Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta. Also interesting is the Throne of Attila. You can easily spend and hour here exploring the beautiful town.

The best way to visit these three villages is by booking this Murano, Burano, Torcello and Glass factory tour (⭐4.4/5). It is, in fact, cheaper than what it would cost if you bought public ferry tickets to all three villages.

🧑🏻Guided Tour: Murano, Burano, Torcello and Glass Factory Tour (⭐4.4/5)

2 Weeks in Italy Day 14: Milan and departure

On the last day of your 2 week Italy itinerary, visit Italy’s design capital – Milan.

Take a direct train or bus from Venice to Milan in the morning.

Plan your day in Milan depending on your flight time. Try to cover as many of the following must visit locations in Milan, before your flight out of Italy:

• Milan Cathedral
• Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
• Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuale II
• Castello Sforzesco
• Leonardo Da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology
• The very happening Navigli District
• Tiatro Alla Scala

Don’t be worried in case you think that’s a lot of places to visit in Milan. Most of them are located within walking distance of each other and some even lie between two major attractions.

For example, to reach Tietro Alla Scala (the grand opera house of Milan) from the Milan Cathedral, you need to walk through the Galleria Vittorio. That’s three of the 7 attractions listed above in a matter of 10 minutes!

Refer our dedicated blog post for a more detailed One Day Milan itinerary that explains everything from things to do in Milan, where to store your luggage, how to get around and how to reach the airport!

This shall be the last day of your Italy trip, so make sure you spend it in a way that captures the entire essence of your trip. Eat great food, sip on some Aperol Spritz along the Navigli Canal, marvel at the architecture of the cathedral or admire the works of Leonardo Da Vinci in his museum!

In a Nutshell!

That brings us to the end of our guide to planning a trip to Italy. The beauty of this 2 weeks in Italy itinerary is that you can do the entire trip in reverse.

Rome and Milan are two of the most well-connected transport hubs that offer the best flight rates. And for that we reason, we have kept them at the two ends of our trip to Italy.

We hope this Italy itinerary helps you in planning your own trip to Italy and inspires you to enjoy this beautiful country a little more in a confined amount of time.

Check out our other blogs on Italy or subscribe to our newsletter to be up to date with our new blogs. We have a lot of content lined up to help travelers make the most of their trip to Italy.

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Last Updated on 2 months by Param Vithlani

2 Weeks in Italy – A 14-Day Itinerary for First-Timers

A trip to Italy has something for everyone: artistic masterpieces, ancient history, amazing food, fabulous landscapes and local folklore.

A 14-day itinerary allows you to discover all the facets of this unique country, from its main cities to some of its most fascinating villages.

Are you ready to spend 2 weeks in Italy?

There are two ways to travel, by car a do an Italy road trip or by train as described below.

Don’t forget to check: my Italy packing list .

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission.

Table of Contents

How to Spend 14 Days in Italy – 2 Week Itinerary

Day 1: Flight to Rome and Transfer To Naples

Fly to Rome, which is not only the Italian capital but also one of its main transportation hubs allowing you to easily reach any other large city.

To find the cheapest flight options from your city, you can use the search form below

Catch a high-speed train to reach Naples in about 1h. Try to be there around lunchtime to be able to spend a few hours visiting the city.

But first, enjoy a real Neapolitan pizza and a well-deserved lunchbreak!

In the afternoon, you can choose between:

• A visit to the National Archeological Museum (if you’re not too tired!) for a real blast from the past. Book your skip the line tickets for the museum here.

• a visit to the mystic Sansevero Chapel to admire the famous Veiled Christ. Click here to book a small group guided tour to the Old Town and the Veiled Christ.
• In the evening, take a stroll in the trendy Chiaia neighborhood and have a drink outdoor like a local

Where to stay in Naples

Check out my guide on where to stay in Naples here. 

Renaissance Naples Hotel Mediterraneo : This 4-star hotel, a member of the Marriott Group, is located centrally close to the main attractions of Naples and the ferry terminal. Rooms are comfortable and modern while the rooftop where breakfast is served has lovely views of the Bay, Castel Nuovo, and Mount Vesuvius. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices. Grand Hotel Europa – Sea Hotels Group : Located near the main station, this hotel is an excellent choice for those thinking about visiting Pompeii or the Amalfi Coast. It provides excellent 3-star value with comfortable rooms including Wi-Fi, satellite TV, air-con, and safe. Click here for more information and to book the Grand Hotel Europa.

You might be interested in: 3 days in Naples.

Day 2 Pompeii & Sorrento

Visiting Pompei is a must and you cannot miss this stop during your 2week stay in Italy! You can easily reach Pompei by train and it will surely be an emotional visit making you feel like an ancient inhabitant of these places. To see the main points of interest and make the best of your time, join a guided tour ( Pompeii: Small-Group Tour with an Archeologist ). As an alternative, get a fast-track ticket ( Pompeii Fast Track Entry Ticket ).

An organized tour will take around 2- 3 hours, but armed with the knowledge already gained, you may want to spend more time there on your own before returning moving on.

No matter how you choose to visit the site, know that it is very busy especially from May to October. Bring a hat and sunscreen, wear comfortable shoes and drink plenty of water.

In the afternoon, head to the lovely town of Sorrento . How can you spend a few hours?

• take a stroll in the picturesque alleyways of the Old Town
• visit the beautiful S. Francesco Cloister
• linger in a café in Piazza Tasso

• meet local fishermen in Marina Grande village
• watch the sunset from the panoramic terrace of Villa Comunale

As an alternative, you can join a walking tour. If you are looking for an organised skip the line guided tour starting from Naples I suggest this full day guided tour that combines a visit to the Pompeii ruins and the mount Vesuvious .

Day 3 Amalfi Coast

Option 1 : rent a car and spend your day driving around to explore all the picturesque villages along the coast. A few tips?

• Positano : winding alleys, a medieval flair, and some wonderful views. If you feel like being active, don’t miss the Path of the Gods.
• Amalfi: the main and largest town on the coast, full of historical buildings and monuments. Visit at least S. Andrea Cathedral and the Cloister of Paradise .

• Ravello : up in the Lattari Mountains and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Visit the Gardens of Villa Cimbrone to take the most amazing pictures!
• Cetara: a lovely fisherman village where you can taste a local gastronomic specialty named “colatura di alici” (anchovy extract)

Option 2 : a guided tour from Naples to the Amalfi Coast.

Option 3: It is very easy to do this day trip on your own as well. You just need to catch a train to Sorrento from Naples. There are about 3 trains per hour depending on the season and the journey is about an hour depending on the type of train. As soon as you exit the train station there is a kiosk where you can buy a bus ticket to either Positano or Amalfi. The buses are in front of the station and tickets cost 2-3 euros one way.

It takes around an hour to get to Positano by bus as the road is small and there is huge traffic especially during the summer and you need even more time to get to the Amalfi village because it is further away. Also, during the high season, the queues to take the bus are huge and you might have to ride standing. Also, the road is very curvy and a lot of people get sick.

Option 4: There is an alternative way to get to the villages, which is by ferry from Sorrento. You can get the ferry from the port. It is a 10- minute walk from the train station. From Sorrento to Amalfi it is one hour by ferry and the ticket was 16 euros in September that I visited. The ferry makes also a stop in Positano before arriving in Amalfi. There are many small boats connecting Positano with Amalfi and the other villages of the Amalfi Coast. Tickets can be bought at each port.

You might also be interested in: 11 Amalfi towns to visit. An Amalfi Coast itinerary and a guide on where to stay in the Amalfi Coast. A guide to Positano

Day 4 Capri

Take a ferry from Naples to reach Capri island in about 40 minutes. The fast ferry takes 50 minutes to Capri from Naples and tickets cost around 21,50 euros one way.

Start your visit with a boat tour taking you to the wonderful Blue Grotto ( Capri Boat Tour With Stop by the Blue Grotto )

Catch a bus and reach the village of Anacapri . Its highlight is the beautiful S. Michele Arcangelo church with its precious majolica floor ( Chiesa di San Michele (chiesa-san-michele.com) )

Now you can either take the chairlift and reach the top of Mount Solaro ( The Chair Lift Monte Solaro (capriseggiovia.it) ) or go back to Capri to visit its Old Town and the medieval Certosa di San Giacomo

Don’t miss a visit to the Gardens of Augustus to enjoy some local nature

If you still have some time to spend on Capri island, reach Villa Jovis on Mount Tiberius

Alternatively, you can book a full-day tour to Capri from Naples.

Click here for my post: Things to do in Capri

Day 5 Naples to Rome

Spend your last hours in Naples taking the Underground Tour to learn more about some important archeological findings ( Naples Underground (napolisotterranea.org) )

Catch a high-speed train to reach the second stop of your 14day itinerary in Italy: Rome !

Spend the afternoon walking around the city center. Start from Piazza Navona and take a moment to admire the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini

Reach Piazza di Spagna and climb its iconic stairs to reach the panoramic terrace in front of the church of Trinità dei Monti

Admire the neoclassical beauty of Piazza del Popolo with its Egyptian obelisk and its twin churches

Reach the Trevi Fountain and wait in line to throw a coin into the basin!

If you still have some time, enjoy some shopping in via Condotti and via del Corso

Where to stay in Rome

Royal Rooms – Via Del Corso : The Royal Rooms are just 200 meters from Via Margutta and many amenities are in the immediate vicinity. They include shopping, piazzas, and cafes. Within the Royal Rooms, you will find everything you need for comfortable accommodation. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices. Palazzo Medusa : Palazzo Medusa is regularly selected by its guests as one of the best in the whole city. Comfortable accommodation includes a large TV, an en-suite bathroom, and a hairdryer. You can even rent a bike if you wish. Palazzo Medusa has gained a reputation for its fine cuisine; enjoy it! Click here for more information and to check the latest prices. Navona Colors Hotel : Located less than 200 meters from Piazza Navona, its situation is ideal for visitors wanting to walk or cycle around. The food is good and the bedrooms are comfortable in this beautiful Baroque building. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices. Piazza Del Gesu Luxury Suites : Situated on the Piazza Navona, a 5-minute walk from one of Rome’s highlights, the Pantheon. Facilities you will enjoy include free WI-FI, lovely furnishings, and a modern bathroom. The views over the City are stunning. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.

You can also check a local’s guide on where to stay in Rome .

What’s best than starting off the day with a visit to the Colosseum ?

Dive into ancient times by also visiting the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill . You can also take a guided tour with skip the line tickets to make the best of your time as lines are huge .

In the afternoon, head to the Pantheon and watch the light entering from the hole in its dome.

Enjoy some nature in Villa Borghese Park , but not before taking a tour of the beautiful Villa Borghese Gallery housing some famous statues by Canova. Book your skip the line tickets here to avoid the queues.

Tonight, taste some typical Roman dishes in Trastevere !

You might also be interested in: 5 days in Rome .

During your 2week stay in Italy, you should absolutely spend a whole day visiting the Vatican . Start from the Vatican Museums and save enough time for the Sistine Chapel, the Galleries, and Raffaello’s Room.

Tip: Visiting the Vatican is an essential Rome experience, and it will be quite overwhelming! Before anything, you should know that the queues are huge. No matter how much you think you can wait, you can’t. The queues go on for seemingly forever, so I recommend a skip a line tour. Another way to enjoy the Vatican if you don’t have much time is by this Pristine Sistine, early entrance small group Vatican tour . The reason I like this tour is that you get inside the Vatican one hour before it opens, the group is small and you get to see the Vatican in under 4 hours. All 3 times I’ve been there were with the skip-the-line guided tour, and it added to the overall comfort and convenience of my entire visit there.

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica and get lost among its many artistic masterpieces and stunning architectural features like the dome.

Leave the Vatican by walking along the majestic via della Conciliazione and take one last picture of the Basilica

Reach S. Angelo Castle and watch the Tevere river from the homonymous bridge lined with huge stone Angels. Book here your fast-track ticket to Castel San Angelo or a guided tour.

Spend a romantic evening walking along the Tiber river .

Day 8 Rome to Florence

Get up early and catch a high-speed train to reach Florence in about 1h30.

Start your tour from the Duomo Complex , the beating heart of Florence. It consists of: Santa Maria del Fiore (Cathedral), Brunelleschi Dome (belonging to the cathedral), Baptistery , and Giotto Tower . A guided tour of the Cathedral is always a great idea.

Tip: There is a dress code to enter the church. Women must wear clothes covering their knees and their elbows. Men must wear long trousers. Tip: The queues to enter the Duomo and to climb the Cupola are long and you might have to wait for hours to enter. A great way to skip the lines is by taking a guided tour or if you are using the Firenze Card (The Firenze Card works like a three-day fast pass to your favorite attractions. This is a great option for visitors trying to pack as much sightseeing into a Florence vacation as it lets them skip the long queue lines at most of the most popular sites. It is a great buy if you are staying in Firenze for 3 days). Here are some recommended tours of the Duomo: Duomo skip the line guided tour. Guided Tour of the Duomo Including the Rooftop and View the Terraces

Head to the elegant Piazza della Repubblica with its beautiful Triumphal Arch and the ancient Column of Abundance

Now reach Piazza della Signoria with the iconic Palazzo Vecchio and the famous Loggia dei Lanzi .

Cross the picturesque Ponte Vecchio , but not before having touched the nose of the wild boar decorating a small fountain nearby (it brings good luck!)

Your last stop will be Santa Croce Basilica , with its marble façade, its frescoes, and the tombs of some famous people like Galileo Galilei and Michelangelo.

Taste the famous Fiorentina Steak for dinner!

Where to stay in Florence

Tourist House Battistero : This accommodation in a 15 th Century building is close to the Ponte Vecchio and the Scudieri Café. You will get a comfortable room with lovely views over the City. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices. C-Hotels Ambasciatori : You will be close to Florence’s main attractions if you stay at this 4-star hotel. It is a chic, modern hotel surrounded by a wonderful history. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices. Plaza Hotel Lucchesi : Built in 1860, this is 4-star accommodation situated close to the Arno River. You will have lovely views of Florence during your stay. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.

Day 9 Florence

Spend the whole day admiring some of the most famous artistic masterpieces in the world! An example? The iconic David by Michelangelo! Where to find it? In the Galleria Dell’ Accademia .

Tip: There are usually long queues for the Accademia. To save time you can either buy a timed entrance ticket beforehand or book a guided tour. Skip the line entrance ticket to the Accademia Another great option is to book a skip-the-line half-day tour to both the Accademia and Uffizi.

Another iconic museum is waiting for you: the Uffizi . Skipping the endless line at the entrance is a must, but a guided tour is what you really need to see everything without spending the whole day wandering around and getting lost!

Tip: The queues for the Uffizi are long. To save time you can either buy a timed entrance ticket beforehand or book a guided tour. Here are some great options: Skip the line Ticket to the Uffizi Skip the long queue with a guided tour of the Uffizi

As an alternative, you can replace one of these visits with Palazzo Pitti , especially if you love Renaissance art. If you go there, step outside and visit the beautiful Boboli Gardens !

Don’t miss the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo and remember to take a picture of the iconic city’s skyline

The Piazzale Michelangelo has become famous because of its wonderful views of Florence and the neighbouring areas. It is equally impressive by night with its flickering lights or as the sunsets.

Check out here my 2 day Florence itinerary. 

Day 10 Tuscany Tour or Cinque Terre

There are interesting day trips from Florence to see the larger region. The choice is yours from a few alternatives:

• San Gimignano and Siena and Chianti are medieval towns within a famous wine region of Italy. It is a lovely region of rolling hills so even the journeys there and back are fun.
• Pisa with tickets to the leaning tower, another alternative especially if you want to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• Cinque Terre is a region of lovely small villages that can be done by train from Florence or with an organized group.

You might like: How to spend one day in Cinque Terre . How to get from Florence to Cinque Terre. The most beautiful hilltop village in Tuscany.

Day 11 Florence to Venice

Get up early and take a high-speed train to reach the third stop of your 14day itinerary in Italy: Venice ! Try to be there as early as you can to be able to spend the whole day exploring the city.

Start from Piazza San Marco . Enter the majestic San Marco Basilica and enjoy its golden decorations and its byzantine vibes. It’s always extremely crowded, so it’s best to skip the line .

Visit also Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace) and learn who the famous Doge was

Recommended: Skip the line tour to Doge’s Palace & St Mark’s Basilica.

Learn something more about the other two landmarks of San Marco Square: San Marco Tower and the Clock Tower . You can enjoy a complete visit to the Square and its monuments by taking a guided tour .

In the afternoon, relax and slowly stroll along the canals . Cross Rialto Bridge and don’t forget to take a picture of the Canal Grande !

Your first night out in Venice shall involve some “cicchetti” and an “ombra” in a local “bacaro” (meaning tasting some local tapas and a glass of wine in one of the typical taverns of Venice!)

Where to stay in Venice

Hotel Al Codega : This comfortable hotel has regularly received positive reviews from its guests. That is because of its location close to some of Venice’s top attractions as well as the facilities they have found within their accommodation. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices. Hotel Rio : Hotel Rio is central within Venice so that you will find attractions close by including the Rialto Bridge. The Venezia Santa Lucia Train Station is near and so it is convenient for arrivals and departures. You can expect every modern amenity including satellite TV and Wi-Fi. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices. Hotel Ai Reali – Small Luxury Hotels of the World : An eclectic mix of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture with plenty of marble, this hotel is among the top tourist selections in Venice.  St. Mark’s Basilica is just a short walk away; perhaps the first major attraction you will see in Venice if you book here? Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.

Day 12 Venice

Start your day with some Venetian art at the Accademia Galleries . Save at least 2h30 for this visit!

If you love modern and contemporary art, replace this visit with a tour of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Click here to book your skip-the-line tickets.

Spend the afternoon visiting the smaller islands of the Venetian Lagoon: Murano, Burano, and Torcello . They are well connected to Venice by water taxi, but you can also choose a combined tour Find here more information and book a cruise to Murano, Burano , and Torcello islands.

The perfect Venetian night? It shall start with a romantic gondola ride . Find here more information and book a 30-minute gondola ride.

Check out my detailed post about 2 days in Venice .

Day 13 Venice to Milan

Today, you’ll reach the last stop of your14day itinerary: Milan ! You can reach it in about 3h by high-speed train

Since you only have 1 day left, focus on the city center and start with the symbol of the city: the Cathedral in Piazza Duomo . This gothic masterpiece deserves a thorough visit and you should absolutely climb up to the rooftop to take in a breathtaking view of the Alps and to see the golden Madonnina (a golden statue of the Virgin Mary protecting the city).

To make the best of your time, choose a fast-track Milan Cathedral and Terraces Guided Tour .

You won’t probably have enough time for a visit, but you should spend a moment to watch the medieval Sforza Castle .

Take a moment to also enjoy some nature and get out of Milan’s crazy traffic in the lovely Sempione Park !

How to spend your last night in Italy? At La Scala Theater of course! It doesn’t need to be super expensive, just have a look at the discounted shows offered by ScalAperta – Teatro alla Scala . Check the regular schedule at Teatro alla Scala

Where to stay in Milan

NYX Hotel Milan : This 299-room hotel near the Central Station is close to a number of the City’s attractions; “La Scala” Opera House, the Sforzesco Castle and”Golden Triangle” (Quadrilatero Della Moda). There is a bar, restaurant, gym, and Wi-Fi. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices. Mandarin Oriental Milano : This 104-room hotel takes up four 18 th Century buildings in Quadrilatero della Moda. Its elegant décor, spa, pool and gym, and excellent service combine with a Michelin-starred restaurant, one of two in the hotel, to provide a memorable stay in Milan, no matter how brief. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.

You can also check my one day Milan itinerary.

Day 14 Fly Home

Book your flight in the afternoon to be able to enjoy an unmissable artistic masterpiece also included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List: The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci . It is kept in the Cenacolo Vinciano, which is part of the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Visitors are admitted a few days a week and in small groups, so plan your visit in advance ( Last Supper, Leonardo Da Vinci | Cenacolo Vinciano Official Website ). As an alternative, take a guided tour .

Time to fly home!  Reach Malpensa international airport by bus ( By Coach | Milan Malpensa Airport (milanomalpensa-airport.com) ) or by train ( By Train | Milan Malpensa Airport (milanomalpensa-airport.com) ) and say bye to Italy…or better, see you soon!

TRAVEL TIPS

🚗 Rent your car in advance

with Rentalcars and make your trip as convenient as possible

✈️ Book your flight in advance

To find the cheapest flights and most suitable option, use WayAway

🧾 Get your tickets and tours

with Viator and get the most out of your journey

Looking to extend your trip to Italy? Check out the following 20 Northern Italy cities you should visit. One day in Verona. Best Towns on Lake Como. Things to do in Lake Garda. Best towns in Lake Garda.

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2 Weeks In Italy: An Epic 14 Day Italy Itinerary

August 30, 2022 //  by  Follow Me Away //   4 Comments

Are you dreaming of the perfect 2 weeks in Italy itinerary? If so, this article is for you!

Planning your Italy itinerary should be fun and exciting, not stressful, which is why there’s this detailed post to show you how to spend 14 days in Italy!

This itinerary includes some of Italy’s most popular things to do as well as some lesser-known suggestions that may not be recommended by others.

Planning your trip to Italy last minute?

Make sure to book your hotels and tours in Italy in advance to ensure availability! Here are my top picks for your trip!

Tickets you MUST book in advance:

• Vatican Museums And Sistine Chapel (A MUST in advance)
• Colosseum Entry Tickets (Another MUST! Book online in advance!)
• Michelangelo’s David Tickets (Often sells out in Florence)
• Skip-The-Line Uffizi Gallery Tickets (Buy online to save time!)
• Doge’s Palace Entry Ticket (Very busy, can sell out)
• Milan Cathedral And Rooftop Tickets (Sells out and a must-see!)

Top picks for places to stay in Italy:

• Rome: Hotel Relais Dei Papi (Amazing Vatican location)
• Florence: Relais Pizza Signoria (City center location)
• Venice: Hotel Carlton Grand Canal (Grand Canal views!)
• Dolomites: Parkhotel Laurin (Central location with pool!)
• Cinque Terre: Affittacamere Casa Dane’ (Affordable location)
• Milan: Collini Rooms (Just 10 min from Milan airport!)

If you follow this itinerary, you will see the best of what Italy has to offer on your trip. That includes visiting the highlights as well as seeing some seaside villages.

For this 14 days in Italy itinerary, you will be provided with a breakdown of some recommended stops and the best sites to see at each.

There is also a recommendation for how long to stay in each area. Since everyone is different, though, feel free to change this to fit what you would like to see!

Instead of planning out every moment of every day of your 14-day Italy vacation, this itinerary provides you with a structured yet flexible plan to follow for your first trip to Italy itinerary!

If you’re not sure what to pack, check out this list of 10 things to include on your Italy packing list .

Keep reading to learn how to plan a trip to Italy for two weeks!

Read next: 10 Days In Italy Itinerary

Begin Your 2 Weeks in Italy Itinerary by Flying into Naples

When planning an Italy itinerary, most tourists decide on flying into Rome or Milan, as those are the more popular airports. However, it is very possible to fly into smaller airports throughout Italy.

This is great for your 2 week Italy itinerary. To begin your vacation to Italy, you can fly into Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP).

This airport is very convenient, as it is only four miles away from the city center, and is the perfect place to start your 14 days in Italy!

When booking your flight to Naples, an easy way to save money is checking to see if you can switch to a smaller airline.

You will most likely already have a transfer on your way to Italy, so see if switching to a budget airline might make it a lower price tag.

Once you have arrived at Naples Capodichino Airport, it is easy to catch a bus to Napoli Centrale Railway Station or take a taxi to the city center.

Getting Around During Your 2 Weeks In Italy Itinerary

When deciding how to get around during your 14 days in Italy, you have a few options.

The first is by using public transportation during your trip. Italy has some amazing high-speed trains that can get you from city to city quickly and easily.

This is the recommended use of transportation for this Italy sample itinerary, as it will get you to your destinations quicker, leaving more time for sightseeing!

You could also rent a car or a Vespa for this two-week Italian trip. This will definitely be the more expensive option, though.

On top of the normal rental price, you will also be dropping off the vehicle at a different location, which can really drive up the price.

The tolls in Italy can also be pretty high, averaging about $25 a toll. This can add up pretty quickly, so you’ll need to budget at least $200 just for tolls.

Parking can also be hard to find in some of the bigger cities.

Having a car does give you a lot of freedom, though, and you can get from one town to another as quickly or slowly as you would like

There is also the option of hiring a private driver for your 14 days in Italy, but only if it works for your financial position.

Whether you go by car or train, you will love your 2-week Italy road trip!

Read more:  Pros And Cons Of Renting A Car In Italy

Days 1-2: Naples

Whether you want to spend your first couple of days in Italy eating pizza, exploring, or both, Naples is an excellent spot to start your two-week Italian trip!

How long you have in Naples depends on your flight and what time you plan on heading to your next destination.

There is so much to do, so pick what sounds the most interesting to you, and get to exploring!

You will probably be tired once you arrive, but once you take the time to rest, make sure you explore Naples during your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary.

Noteworthy Things To Do In Naples:

Find art at the national archaeological museum of naples.

If you want to see all of the relics from Pompeii and Herculaneum, make sure to stop by the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

This museum is home to one of the most impressive selections of Roman art and artifacts in the world.

Unfortunately, this museum can be confusing, so it is best to visit with a tour group or a self-guided walking tour from a guidebook.

You don’t want to miss out on any of the artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Discover the Church of San Francesco di Paola

Located on the west side of Piazza del Plebiscito is this beautiful 19th-century church.

It is one of the most important pieces of neoclassical architecture in Italy.

This church is actually inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, but you won’t find all of the crowds here.

Tour Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace)

Palazzo Reale is a genuinely spectacular palace that is located in Naples. You should definitely try to make it here during your 2 weeks in Italy!

The palace was initially built in the 1600s as a residence for a Spanish King, who never ended up going to Italy.

It wasn’t used until the 1700s when it became the palace for a Bourbon King.

Since it is also close to the Church of San Francesco di Paola, you can easily see both of them while exploring.

It might not seem like eating pizza should be on this list of what to do in Naples, but it most definitely deserves its spot!

After all, you are in the birthplace of pizza, so finding a restaurant serving up Naple’s signature dish is a must.

If you want to find an authentic Neapolitan pizza, look for a place serving “pizza vera Napoletana.”

If you are interested in trying a more “street food” pizza, then be on the lookout for pizza frittata. It’s fried pizza dough stuffed with cheese and/or meat.

See an Opera at San Carlo Theater

If you can grab a ticket to see the opera at the San Carlo Theater, it is highly suggested.

San Carlo is the oldest theater in Europe and the largest theater in Italy, so it definitely worth seeing during your 14 days in Italy.

If you are not able to snag a ticket to the opera, then take a guided tour so that you can still marvel at the interior.

Buy A Ticket To The Opera

Admire The Veiled Christ

A truly spectacular sight, the Veiled Christ is a must while you are in Naples!

Even if art and sculptures aren’t typically your thing, you will definitely appreciate the Veiled Christ during your 2 weeks in Italy.

The Veiled Christ, which is located in the center of the Sansevero Chapel, was carved in 1753. You should definitely check out the Veiled Christ while in Naples!

Skip The Line By Getting Your Tickets Online

Visit Il Duomo (The Cathedral) 

While you are in Naples, you must visit this 14th-century Cathedral!

This Cathedral is a wonderful mix of periods and art styles, making it fascinating to explore.

It was initially built in the 14th century but was destroyed by an earthquake in the 15th century. There were many repairs and additions made, including the neo-Gothic Facade that was only completed in 1905.

Where To Stay In Naples:

There are so many options for where to stay in Naples.

Whether you’re looking for budget, luxury, or something in the middle, there is an option for you.

The area you want to stay in depends on what you want to do during your time in Naples.

If you want to stay somewhere close to the airport where you still have relatively convenient access to some of the sights, you should stay in the Historic Center.

If you would like to be closer to some of the popular attractions in Naples, you should try to find a hotel in Chiaia. No matter what you’re looking for during your 2 weeks in Italy, Naples will have something for you!

Stay Near Piazza del Plebiscito: Chiaja Hotel de Charm e Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-Range: Culture Hotel Centro Storico Check Rates: Booking.com

Stay In The historical Center: M Gallery Palazzo Caracciolo Check Rates: Booking.com

Luxury: Grand Hotel Vesuvio Check Rates: Booking.com

How Long To Spend In Naples During Your Italy Itinerary:

How long you spend in Naples will depend on what time your flight arrives and what time you are leaving.

Whatever your schedule, we suggest that you spend at least one night in Naples.

Since it is the beginning of your 14 days in Italy, you will most likely be tired, so this gives you some time to rest before starting to travel again.

While you are in Naples, you should also try to get some sightseeing in, as there are so many incredible places to see!

Days 3-4: Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is made up of multiple towns set along the mountainous coast of Italy.

It is one of the most popular areas of Italy, and for excellent reasons. It is absolutely stunning and will leave you only wanting more.

There are so many options for which towns to visit during your time at the Amalfi Coast.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect Amalfi beaches , a more authentic (less touristy) town, or the best place for photos, there is a place for you!

Once you decide on which area you want to stay in, then there’s the decision of where to stay. There are so many different hotels and bed and breakfasts to choose from, no matter your budget!

The Amalfi Coast is the perfect place to relax during your 2 weeks in Italy!

You have multiple options for how to get from Naples to the Amalfi Coast.

If you are driving, then it’s a pretty easy drive that should only take you around an hour.

If you are using public transportation, then you have two main options. The first is the train between Naples and Sorrento , as of summer 2019 though, this option is having many delays and cancellations. It is still an option that is very cheap, but recently the service has not been consistent.

Then you have the option of taking the ferry from Naples to Sorrento, which is called Metro del Mare . Taking the ferry is an excellent option for a couple of reasons.

The first is that you have control over which towns you go to. The second is that even if you don’t stop at some of the popular coastal towns, you can still see them and photograph them to your heart’s content!

What To Do At The Amalfi Coast:

Visit the lovely town of sorrento.

This well-known town on the Amalfi Coast is definitely worth a visit during your 2 weeks in Italy.

It’s located in the northern section of the Amalfi Coast and is most popular for its beautiful scenery and the lovely buildings situated along the coast.

While in Sorrento, make sure to check out the gorgeous cathedral that was built in the 11th century.

There are also two different ports in Sorrento that hold fishing and sailing boats.

If you find yourself interested in the history of Sorrento, you can go to two different museums during your time in Sorrento.

Head Out on the Water With This Boat Tour!

Admire The Colorful Positano

Positano is considered one of the most picturesque towns in Italy, and it’s not hard to see why. It is full of colorful houses that are set against the mountainside

If you want an extra-pretty view of Positano, take a boat out so that you can see all of this lovely town.

Full of pretty beaches, cute cafes, and bright buildings, Positano is the perfect spot to relax during your 14 days in Italy.

See Praiano’s Gorgeous Sights

Praiano is located between Positano and Amalfi and is the perfect spot to take in some gorgeous views with fewer crowds.

This town is not as well known as some of its neighbors, but that doesn’t mean that you should skip over Praiano.

It doesn’t matter if you want to stroll through the quiet streets, take a dip in the ocean, or relax on the beach, you will find each to be incredibly enjoyable.

See The Popular Town Of Amalfi

Amalfi is the most popular of all of these coastal towns and is generally packed with tourists.

Don’t be scared of the number of tourists though, Amalfi is still a gorgeous town to visit.

Amalfi even has its own cathedral, which is absolutely magnificent. There are also plenty of shops for you to spend an afternoon exploring.

For The Best Views On The Amalfi Coast, Visit Ravello

While the Amalfi Coast is known for its spectacular views, go to Ravello to see something rather extraordinary.

Unlike the other towns on the Amalfi Coast that are built into the mountainside, Ravello is located at the top of the mountains, giving some breathtaking views.

It is also much more relaxed than some of the other tourist destinations along the coast.

There are also plenty of outdoor terraces where you can enjoy your evening meal taking in the ocean.

Head To Cetara For An Authentic Italian Town

If you want a more authentic experience, head to the town of Cetara.

Unlike most other towns along the Amalfi coast, Cetara remains relatively unspoiled by tourism. It is a great place to head to for a day of relaxing.

Cetara also has the only fishing fleet in this region that is still in operation, so you can see all of the fishermen going about their work.

Tour The Emerald Grotto

If you are feeling up for a bit of an adventure and want to leave the coast, take a tour to the Emerald Grotto, a genuinely spectacular natural occurrence.

The Emerald Grotto is a collection of caves that are bathed in green light. They are only accessible by boat, so I hope you don’t get seasick!

You can take either a car or a bus to get to the facilities along the road, then take an elevator down to the point of departure; it is open from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Where To Stay On The Amalfi Coast:

There are so many options for where to stay along the Amalfi Coast, whether or not you are looking for budget or luxury.

Depending on how much you are willing to spend, there are certain areas that will be best for you.

We have an entire post devoted to Where to Stay On The Amalfi Coast in case you are looking for our suggestions in detail! 

Positano and Amalfi are definitely going to be more expensive, so if you are traveling on a budget, these probably aren’t the towns you should spend the night.

Ravello and Cetara would be much more budget-friendly options. If you are planning on staying in luxury though, you will have no lack of gorgeous and unique hotels offering first-class treatment!

Budget In Cetara: Cetara Albergo Diffuso Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-Range In Ravello: Hotel Parsifal Check Rates: Booking.com

Private Beach In Amalfi: Hotel Miramalfi Check Rates: Booking.com

Luxury In Positano: Hotel Villa Gabrisa Check Rates: Booking.com

How Long To Spend At The Amalfi Coast During Your 14 Days In Italy:

You will probably want to spend 1-2 nights at the Amalfi Coast in order to have a chance to explore or relax.

Because it is more expensive, you might want to spend 2 nights in Naples, then leave early in the morning to head to the Amalfi Coast.

It’s around a 40-minute ferry ride to the Amalfi Coast, so you can spend the day exploring.

This way you only spend one night on the coast but get 2 days of exploring.

If you have found an awesome deal in Naples though, you might even consider staying at a hotel in Naples and taking the ferry both days. I would only deal with this though if you get an awesome hotel in Naples.

Days 5-6: Rome

Next up on your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary is one of the most popular cities in Italy: Rome.

Rome is full of history, art, shopping, and some excellent restaurants! You will have no shortage of things to do during your time in Rome.

Spend time exploring some of Rome’s historical sights, like the Colosseum or Vatican City, or strolling through the picturesque streets and stopping at some of the wonderful little cafes!

You can even find some little hidden gems in Rome !

Driving from the Amalfi Coast to Rome will take you around 4 hours depending on the traffic, and be aware that the traffic in Rome can be pretty awful.

You can also pay for a private driver, but this will come with a higher price tag than some of your other options.

For public transportation, you can take the ferry or train back to Naples, and from there take a train to Rome .

Top Things To Do In Rome:

Throw a coin in the fontana di trevi.

While in Rome during your 14 days in Italy, make sure to stop by the Trevi Fountain and drop a coin in.

Dropping in a coin means that you will return to Rome one day (why not throw in a few more coins for some extra luck on getting back to Rome?).

This is one of the most famous landmarks in Rome, so get there early to beat the crowds!

Explore The Colosseum

No trip to Rome is complete without visiting the Colosseum, so make sure you make it there during your two weeks in Italy!

It is one of the most popular places in Rome, and it will be an experience you’ll never forget!

You won’t be the only one planning on seeing the Colosseum though, so you should look into booking a tour. This way you can skip the lines and guarantee your entrance! 

Skip The Line With This Colosseum Tour!

Explore The Roman Forum

Although not as popular as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum is still an impressive sight, and it’s so close to the Colosseum!

You only have to walk a few steps from the Colosseum, and you’ll be able to imagine how the Roman people used to live.

Book Your Tour For The Colosseum And The Roman Forum Here!

Visit Piazza Navona

If you are looking for a place to spend your afternoon shopping and eating at delicious cafes, head to Piazza Navona!

It is one of Rome’s most popular squares, and for good reason! This square was built in the 15th century and is a beautiful area to explore.

Admire Basilica Di Santa Maria Maggiore

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is known as a Basilica Major, which means it is one of the largest churches in Rome.

It is a truly magnificent structure and is well worth a visit during your 14-day Italy vacation!

The interior is intricately designed with gold, frescos, and detailed paintings on the walls and ceilings.

This is a great place to go during winter in Rome to get out of the cold.

Skip The Line With This Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore Tour!

Climb The Spanish Steps

What would a visit to Rome be without seeing the famous Spanish Steps?

You’ve probably seen them in a movie or two, as they are one of Rome’s famous landmarks.

If you want to climb the steps (which is highly recommended) make sure to bring your walking shoes, as there are 135 steps.

Gaze Upon Castle Saint Angelo

Castle Saint Angelo, also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, is a circular castle that was once the tallest building in Rome!

It was built in 129 AD and was originally intended to be a Mausoleum for the Emporer.

It has now been connected to St. Peter’s Basilica, and if you climb to the top of the castle ramparts, you can see a stunning view of Rome.

Visit The Pantheon

The Pantheon is a former Roman temple that is now a church.

Not only is it one of Rome’s most popular landmarks, but it is also full of interesting history. You should add it to your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary.

Reserve An Affordable Audio Guide To The Pantheon Here!

Wander Through The Vatican City

There is so much to do in Vatican City, that you could easily spend one of your days in Rome just exploring this area.

You’ll definitely want to explore other parts of Rome though, so you should decide on what you really want to do in Vatican City.

The two main things to do in Vatican City are St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.

If you are deciding between the two, we highly suggest touring St. Peter’s Basilica. It will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life!

There are also the Vatican Museums that hold tons of history, and it’s where you will find the famous Sistine Chapel.

The Vatican Museums will take about 3 hours to explore, and St. Peter’s Basilica will take around 1 to 3 hours, depending on how long you want to spend.

Vatican Museum And Sistine Chapel Fast Track Entry

St. Peter’s Basilica: Tour with Dome Climb

Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums, And St. Peter’s Guided Tour

Where To Stay In Rome:

Staying near Vatican City while in Rome will be your best option, especially when you’re only going to be in Rome for two days during your two weeks in Italy.

This way, you can walk to Vatican Square at night when it is all lit up and it is a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We highly recommend taking a look at our detailed guide on Exactly Where To Stay In Rome!  There are also lots of shops around!

If you want to stay at an Airbnb, there are plenty of Airbnb options in Rome from budget to affordable depending on your funds for your best itinerary for Italy. 

Near the Vatican: Vatican Style Suite . Check Rates: Booking.com

Budget: Bed In Roma . Check Rates: Booking.com

Mid-Range: Casa Montani . Check Rates: Booking.com

Upscale:  The Westin Excelsior Rome . Check Rates:  Booking.com

How Long To Spend In Rome During Your 2 Weeks In Italy Itinerary:

For this 2 weeks in Italy Itinerary, we recommend spending 2 days in Rome .

This gives you time to explore Rome, but still gives you plenty of opportunity for the other areas of Italy that you will be visiting.

You can, of course, alter this however you need to. Try not to stay for more than four days though, as this is plenty of time to explore Rome.

If you do choose to stay longer, there are plenty of lovely day trips from Rome to explore!

Days 7-9: Florence and Tuscany

Next up on your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary is Tuscany, specifically its capital: Florence.

Florence is a much more laid-back city than Rome, so it’s a great place to take your time while seeing what Florence has to offer.

It’s also a very walkable city, so you will only need to use public transportation if you want to explore other villages.

There are so many things to do in the Tuscany region !

Getting from Rome to Florence is very easy to do by train, and it will only take you about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

For the best option, take the high-speed train from Roma Termini station to Firenze S M Novella in Florence. This will take 1 hour and 30 minutes. If you choose to drive, it will take you around 3 hours.

Top things to do in Florence:

Explore boboli gardens.

If gardens are your thing, plan a visit to Boboli Gardens !

Whether you want the perfect place for a photo op, or just want to admire the beautiful surroundings, this 16th-century garden is the place for you.

Bring some sturdy shoes though, as Boboli Gardens is up a steep hill.

You should plan on spending around 1-2 hours here, though you could spend less or more depending on your interest.

Boboli Gardens Skip The Line Tour

Visit The Duomo

While in Florence during your 14 days in Italy, make sure to stop by the Duomo. Even if you only set aside one day in Florence, this is a must-see stop!

This Catholic Church towers over Florence and is pretty difficult to miss.

If you plan on going in though, know there is a dress code for women and men; your knees and shoulders must be covered.

You also must be completely silent when visiting the Duomo in Florence .

It is usually very crowded, but you can skip the line by taking a tour.

Skip The Line At The Duomo With This Tour!

Walk Across The Ponte Vecchio

If you are looking for a picture-perfect bridge during your Italy in 2 weeks trip, Florence has you covered!

Ponte Vecchio is a beautiful bridge, and it’s the perfect spot to watch the sunset. You can also enjoy a leisurely stroll and some delicious gelato if you choose!

It is one of the best free things to do in Florence during your trip! 

See David At Galleria dell’Accademia During Your Italy Itinerary

If you are a lover of art, then you definitely want to explore Galleria dell’Accademia.

This museum is home to some of Michaelangelo’s greatest works, including the famous “David” statue.

The museum gets very crowded, and since you don’t want to waste any of your 14 days in Italy, you should consider buying a timed ticket or booking a tour.

Timed Entrance Ticket For Michaelangelo’s David

Marvel At Renaissance Artwork At Palazzo Pitti

Palazzo Pitti is another museum to see if you are an art lover. It’s Florence’s largest art museum, and is full of Renaissance works of art!

There are so many stunning works of art to admire, and it is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Admire The Church Of Santa Maria Novella

If you are arriving in Florence on the train, then you will have no struggle in seeing the Church of Santa Maria Novella, as it is located right in front of the main railway station.

It is a stunning church and is a wonderful example of Renaissance architecture.

Skip The Line And Audio Guide Ticket For The Church Of Santa Maria Novella

Explore The Countryside Of Tuscany

Florence is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing else to do.

Tuscany is known for its beautiful countryside full of rolling hills and vineyards. But that isn’t all!

There are many things in Tuscany such as hot springs and magical castles that you are going to want to see, if possible!

Exploring the countryside will be easiest if you are driving, but is possible to take public transportation to some of the villages.

For ideas on what to do in Tuscany, check out this Tuscany road trip .

Where To Stay In Florence:

Florence is much smaller than Rome so if you are staying in the city center there really are no bad places to stay!

We even have an entire post on where to stay in Tuscany which includes Florence!

We also have a complete breakdown of where to stay in Florence .

Hotels in Florence range from affordable to luxury options. You can get a really nice hotel in the city center of Florence for a very reasonable price. 

Affordable:  Hotel Bavaria .  Check Rates:  Booking.com  

Mid-Range:  Globus Urban Hotel .   Check Rates:  Booking.com

Upscale:  Hotel Garibaldi Blu  Check Rates:  Booking.com

How Long To Spend In Florence During Your 14 Days In Italy:

When deciding how long to spend in Florence, it’s important to think about how you want to see Florence.

If you want to wake up early, maybe stay out a little late, and rush through some of the sights, it’s completely possible to see the highlights that Florence has to offer in a day.

If you want to take your time, then two days is the perfect amount of time to stay in Florence.

Days 10-11: Venice

Venice, known as one of the most romantic cities in the world, is next up on your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary.

Venice is the capital of Italy’s Vento Region, and it is made up of over 100 tiny islands!

There is plenty to explore during your 2 days in Venice , and you won’t be disappointed!

If you want to rearrange this itinerary and only spend one day in Venice , that is okay too!

It is so easy to get to Venice from Florence, all you have to do is hop on a train and enjoy the ride!

We even have a full Northern Italy itinerary if you are interested in exploring this region in more detail. We highly suggest it as it is one of the most beautiful spots in Italy! 

Here is a post we wrote on Exactly How To Get From Florence To Venice which explains all of your transport options! 

The best route to go from Florence to Venice is to get on the train at Santa Maria Novela station in Florence and head to Venezia Santa LuciaIf in Venice.

This train trip takes a little over 2 hours and is a nice easy ride. Driving will take you around 3 hours, though this will depend a lot on Rome’s traffic.

What To Do In Venice During Your 2-Week Italy Itinerary

Explore the popular piazza san marco.

Piazza San Marco, also known as Saint Mark’s Square, is the most popular square in Venice, and maybe all of Italy!

It was built during the 12th century and is in the center of the square at St. Mark’s Basilica, which you can tour.

If you are looking to do some bird feeding during your 14 days in Italy, this is the square where everyone feeds the pigeons.

It is also one of the best photo spots in Venice if you are looking for something new for your Instagram! 

St. Mark’s Basilica: Tour with Terrace Access

Climb The Campanile di San Marco Bell Tower

While at St. Mark’s Square, why not climb up the bell tower?

When you reach the top you will have one of the most beautiful views in Venice. The tower itself rises high above the square.

It’s very popular, and you’ve probably seen it in many photos or the replica at Walt Disney World.

This is one of the best things to do in Venice !

Walk Across The Bridge Of Sighs

Legend has it that when criminals were taken away from the palace, over the bridge, they would gaze at Venice for the last time and sigh as they thought about their upcoming punishment, hence the name the Bridge of Sighs.

Who knows how true this is, but it’s something to think about as you cross the bridge on your way to Doge’s Palace.

Go On A Gondola Ride

One of the most popular things to do in Venice is to go for a gondola ride.

Though it will require a bit of a splurge, what could be more fun than riding a gondola through the canals of Venice?

This experience is unlike anything else that you will do on your Italy in 2 weeks itinerary.

Venice: Private Gondola Ride along Canal Grande

Admire The Architecture Of Doge’s Palace

Doge’s Palace is an ornate gothic palace right on the canals of Venice!

It is not only a museum but a showroom, and it is one of the most impressive palaces you will see during your Italy in 14 days itinerary.

Doge’s Palace holds lacework, paintings, sculptures, and more and is a real treat for architecture lovers!

You will definitely enjoy exploring this wonderful palace. If you are visiting Venice during the winter, museums such as this one are the perfect way to stay warm.

Timed Admissions Ticket To Doge’s Palace

Take A Tour Of The Venetian Islands

If you are struggling with deciding which of the Venetian Islands to visit during your two weeks in Italy, why not take a tour?

You will visit the small towns of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, depending on what tour you take.

Since Venice isn’t exactly a walkable city, the best way to see these islands and the lagoon is to take a guided tour.

You will also learn lots of great information about Venice!

Boat Trip: Glimpse of Murano, Torcello & Burano Islands

Walk Over The Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is an iconic sight that you must see during your two weeks in Italy!

While walking across the bridge is incredible, it is also absolutely beautiful to view it from afar.

It’s the perfect place to get some great photos and is one of the best things to do in Italy during your trip!

Where To Stay In Venice:

When staying in Venice during your 14-day Italy itinerary, we highly recommend staying in the city center!

There is a variety of hotel and Airbnb options in Venice ranging from the budget $70 a night places to luxury $300 a night hotels.

There are plenty of cute, boutique hotels in Venice too if you are looking for something special.

Please don’t forget to check out our VERY detailed guide on Exactly Where To Stay In Venice Italy!

There is something for everyone when planning your stay during your Italy in 14 days trip so choose the accommodation that feels right for you.

We recommend staying near Saint Mark’s Basilica or the Rialto Bridge.

No matter where you decide to stay, you are in Venice and that is something to celebrate!

City Center:  Hotel Casanova . Check Rates:  Booking.com

Affordable: Alberghiera Venezia . Check Rates: Booking.com

4-Star:  Royal San Marco Hotel .   Check Rates:  Booking.com  

How Long To Stay In Venice During Your Italy Itinerary:

Spending 1-2 days in Venice during your 2 weeks in Italy Itinerary should be enough time to experience what the city offers.

The amount of time that you should spend in Venice really depends on how much you want to see, and this Italy itinerary can be easily changed to fit what you desire for your 14 days in Italy.

Days 12-13: Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a popular destination for travelers, and it definitely deserves to be explored during your 2 weeks in Italy.

Cinque Terre is split into 5 villages or towns, and that is what the name translates to as “cinque” means 5 and “Terre” means village.

Each of these towns is beautiful and unique, and you should aim to explore each of them during your 14 days in Italy!

Once you have made it to Cinque Terre, getting between the villages is incredibly easy, as there is a train that connects all five.

The journey between villages only lasts a few minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore!

The drive from Venice to Cinque Terre will be around 4 1/2 hours, and you will probably want to use public transportation once you get there, as it can be crazy and expensive to park.

You can also take the train from Venice to Monterosso , which will place you in the perfect spot to explore the surrounding villages.

Top Things To Do In Cinque Terre During Your 14-Day Italy Itinerary

Hike the monterosso footpath.

The Monterosso footpath connects the towns of Monterosso and Vernazza and provides stunning views of the towns!

This hike is a bit challenging as you are going up the coastal cliffs, so plan on at least 1-2 hours to complete it.

The views are worth the effort, but bring plenty of water, especially if you visit during the summer!

Explore The Church of San Francesco

Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the Church of San Francesco provides some pretty remarkable views of the dazzling blue water below.

The church was built in the 17th century and is a great place to stop while exploring Cinque Terre during your 2 weeks in Italy.

Visit Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre

This National Park is one of the smallest in Italy at only 15 square miles but it is also one of the most popular and most beautiful!

Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre is one of the most heavily inhabited national parks in Italy and it is easy to see why!

A one-day pass costs $9 per person to enter the National Park. Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Take A Boat Tour Of Cinque Terre During Your Italy Itinerary

If you are short on time during your Italy in 14 days trip, consider taking a boat tour of the Cinque Terre villages.

A boat tour will allow you to see all of the towns with ease and speed and you won’t feel like you missed a thing!

A boat tour is an easy and affordable way to add Cinque Terre to your Italy itinerary even if you are short on time because you can see everything by water!

Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore, Monterosso, Vernazza Boat Cruise

Watch The Sun Set

It doesn’t matter where you do this, but while you are in Cinque Terre you must watch the sunset one evening.

It is absolutely breathtaking, and you won’t regret taking the time to relax and take it in.

This can and should be done from any of the 5 towns in Cinque Terre, so it doesn’t matter where you are staying for the night.

One of the Cinque Terre Beaches is the perfect place for watching the sunset during your trip!

Cinque Terre Sunset Boat Tour 

Where To Stay In Cinque Terre

Which of the 5 towns you decide to stay in during your time in Cinque Terre really depends on what you’re looking for.

Here’s a complete guide to where to stay in Cinque Terre !

You have so many options when staying in Cinque Terre. The hard part will be deciding between all of the beautiful hotels!

Enjoy The Nightlife In Riomaggiore: Locanda Ca Da Iride Check Rates: Booking.com

Stay In Manarola For The Best Views: Olimpo Affittacamere Check Rater: Booking.com

Corniglia Is Where To Stay To Escape The Crowds: Arbanella Check Rates: Booking.com

Stay in Vernazza Near the Beach: Appartamento Margherita . Check Rates: Booking.com

A Room with a View in Monterosso : I Tibei Guesthouse . Check Rates: Booking.com

How Long To Spend In Cinque Terre During Your 14 Days In Italy

Even though there are 5 villages that you can explore during your 14 days in Italy, the simple and quick transportation makes it possible to visit all of them within 1-2 days, depending on how long you spend in each village.

You can adjust this, of course, but try to give yourself enough time to enjoy all Cinque Terre has to offer.

Day 14: Milan And Fly Home

Your final stop on your 14 days in Italy is Milan, and it is where you will fly out.

Milan is home to a very large international airport and many affordable flight options fly in from all over the world.

Beginning your trip in Naples and ending it in Milan is perfect, especially if you want to spend the majority of your Italy itinerary exploring!

For this 2 week Italy itinerary,  you will get the most of your time by buying two one-way tickets.

However, it would be rather easy if you needed to get back to Naples for a roundtrip flight.

All you have to do is book a train or a flight. This could also be done the other way, by flying into Milan and then heading to Naples.

Just because you have only one day in Milan doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of exciting things to see and do! 

Milan: Bergamo Airport Transfer

Suggested Things To Do In Milan To End Your Italy Itinerary:

Take in the breathtaking milan cathedral.

Even if you are short on time in Milan, you must visit the Milan Cathedral to admire the stunning architecture, even if it’s just for a moment.

You’ve most likely seen pictures of the Milan Cathedral, but it is so much larger and magnificent in person.

Try to make it a priority to see it during your Italian itinerary in 2 weeks!

Milan Cathedral And Rooftop Entrance Tickets

Go Shopping At Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

If you want to get some shopping done during your 14 days in Italy, you must visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

It is Italy’s oldest shopping mall, and a very popular place to spend time browsing through all of the fantastic stores.

Even if you don’t want to shop, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is incredibly beautiful and deserves a visit just for the 19th-century glass-covered arcade that houses the mall.

Visit Sforza Castle In Milan

Sforza Castle in Milan is a 15th-century castle located right in the city.

It is also home to various artistic works, including those from Leonardo Da Vinci!

If you are looking to add another museum and art gallery to your Italy itinerary, make sure to put Sforza Castle on your list of things to do in Milan.

Explore The City On A Bus Tour

An easy way to explore Milan when you’re short on time is by doing a hop-on-hop-off bus tour!

Even if you aren’t into doing super touristy things, you will still enjoy this bus tour of Milan.

It will provide insider information about some of the most famous sites in Milan and you will easily be able to get off the bus should you want to explore more!

This is perfect if you only have one day to tour Milan.

Milan: 1, 2, or 3-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket

Where To Stay In Milan:

If you are catching your flight out of Milan Airport the next day, we highly recommend spending your last night in Italy somewhere close to Milan Airport.

This will allow you to explore on the last day of your 14-day Italy itinerary without worrying about waking up early and taking a long transfer taxi or bus to the airport to catch your flight the next day.

That being said, we put together this post on exactly where to stay in Milan where we break down the areas so that you can get a feel for what is best for you!

Mid-Range:  Sheraton Milan Airport Hotel.  Check Rates:  Booking.com

Affordable:  First Hotel Malpensa .  Check Rates:  Booking.com

How Long To Spend In Milan On Your 2 Weeks In Italy Itinerary:

You really only need one day in Milan during your 14 days In Italy itinerary at the most.

Compared to other Italian cities on this itinerary, the highlights of Milan can be done very quickly.

If you are looking for how to save time and budget days elsewhere in this 2-week itinerary for Italy, you can shorten the length of your stay in Milan as you can see the city in a short period of time.

Use Milan as your gateway to the airport, stop off and see a thing or two, and then be on your way home!

There is so much to see and do in Italy, that it can be hard to narrow down what you should do during your best itinerary for Italy in 2 weeks.

This itinerary gives you some structure to make some of the big decisions a bit easier.

It is also completely flexible, so you can easily change what it is that you see during your 14 day Italy vacation.

Since not everything has made it onto this list, what are some of your favorite things to do in Italy?

Reader Interactions

August 31, 2019 at 9:28 am

Please send me more info, can we choose our travel dates and expenses. Thank you Andra Cook

June 17, 2022 at 11:23 pm

I am interested in your itinerary. do you have it in a downloadable option?

August 28, 2022 at 1:52 pm

This is a very very nice itinerary. There is no right or wrong answer on where to stay for the 2 weeks. If I was taking my family/friends who have never been to Italy for 2 weeks it would be the following: Fly into Naples early morning and go to Sorrento: 3 nights Sorrento 4 nights Rome 3 nights Tuscany town like Montepulciano 3 nights Florence Fly into Naples and out of Florence. I am in the minority in saying Venice is so over rated and expensive and too far out of the way for an optimal 14 day trip. I think you suggest going all the way North and east to Venice then backtracking from one side to the other to get back to Cinque T. In Sorrento day boat trip to Capri, Day tour Amalfi towns like Positano. Then get a car and stay inside a town such as Montepulciano and drive to see all the towns while coming back to experience spending the evenings/nights in a hillside town. From Florence day trip to Cinque Terre and if yo missed Siena and San Gim. you do that in a Day trip that also includes Pisa. Least amount of backtracking and luggage hauls and checking in/out of hotels. But there is no right itinerary and how did we leave out Sicily or Lake Como, or Dolomites or…..LOL too much to see.

August 28, 2022 at 3:32 pm

Thank you for sharing this!! It sure is hard right!! so many epic things to see!

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Travel Guide

• Things to Do
• Planning a Trip
• In One Week
• Cultural Trip
• In Two Weeks
• For Families
• Traveler's Guide to Art & Architecture

In Two Weeks in Italy

It’s obviously difficult to see the top sights of Italy—and to see them properly—in just 2 weeks. But in this itinerary, we show you some of the best of them. We’ll go beyond the well-trodden (and spectacular) Rome–Florence–Venice trail to include the southern region of Campania, specifically Pompeii, which has Italy’s most complete Roman ruins. Additional stops in the center and north are Pisa (for the Leaning Tower and more) and Verona (the city of lovers since “Romeo and Juliet”).

Days 1, 2 & 3: Rome ★★★

Follow the itinerary suggested in “ Italy in One Week. " Because an extra week allows you to add a trip to Pompeii, you can probably skip Ostia Antica: Choose your third day from between the catacombs of the Via Appia Antica and Rome’s less visited museums.

Day 4: Naples ★★

Leave Rome as early as you can so that you can take in the major attractions of Naples, the “capital” of southern Italy. There is an unparalleled collection of ancient artifacts at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale , plus Titians and Caravaggios at the Museo e Gallerie Nazionale di Capodimonte . After dark, wander Spaccanapoli —the old center's main east–west thoroughfare—then make a date with a pizzeria: Neapolitans stake a reasonable claim that pizza was invented here. After dinner, wander the Mergellina boardwalk to enjoy the breezes and views of the Bay of Naples. Stay overnight in Naples, the first of 3 nights based here.

Day 5: Pompeii ★★

On day 5, take the Circumvesuviana train 24km (15 miles) south of Naples to spend a day wandering Europe’s Best-Preserved Roman Ruins at Pompeii . Be sure to pack water and lunch, because onsite services aren’t great. The city was buried for almost 2,000 years, having suffered devastation when nearby Vesuvius erupted in a.d. 79. Some of the great treasures of Italy—including the remarkable patrician villa Casa dei Vettii and the frescoed Villa dei Misteri —are found here. Return to Naples for overnighting.

Day 6: The Amalfi Coast ★★

On the morning of day 6, rent a car and drive 49km (30 miles) south of Naples along A3 until you see the turnoff for Sorrento. At Sorrento , head east along the curvy Amalfi Drive, of which Andre Gide said “[There is] nothing more beautiful on this earth.” The drive winds around the twisting, steep coastline, to the southern resorts of Positano and Amalfi , either of which would make an idyllic stopover to extend your stay. Allow at least 3 hours for this drive because it is slow moving. Alternatively, do the death-defying Amalfi Coast drive as part of an organized tour from Naples.

Days 7 & 8: Florence ★★★

Jump on the early high-speed train from Naples to Florence, then follow the Florence itinerary suggested in “Italy in One Week."

Day 9: Gothic Siena ★★★

It’s just over an hour to Siena on the rapida bus from Florence's bus station. Leave early and set out immediately on arrival for Piazza del Campo, the shell-shaped main square, including its art-filled Museo Civico (inside the Palazzo Pubblico). This is a flying visit, but you still have time to squeeze in a look at the Duomo and Museo dell’Opera Metropolitana , where you’ll find Sienese master Duccio’s giant “Maestà.” Stop on the Campo for an early evening drink and then head to a restaurant in Siena’s atmospheric back streets. Reserve an early table: The last bus back to Florence departs at 8:45pm (Sun 7:10pm).

Day 10: Pisa & its Leaning Tower ★★

The set-piece piazza here is one of the most photographed slices of real estate on the planet. Pisa’s Campo dei Miracoli (“Field of Miracles”) is home to the Leaning Tower , of course. You can visit the Duomo , with its Arab-influenced Pisan-Romanesque facade, the Battistero with its carved pulpit and crazy acoustics, and the rest of the piazza’s monuments and museums on the same combination ticket. You should book a slot ahead of time if you want to climb the Leaning Tower, however. For dining alla pisana, head away from the touristy piazza. The “real Pisa” lies in the warren of streets around the market square, Piazza delle Vettovaglie . Finish your visit with a stroll along the handsome promenade beside the River Arno . The last train back to Florence usually leaves at 10:30pm (though the 9:30pm train is quicker).

Days 11 & 12: Venice ★★★

Follow the Venice itinerary suggested in “Italy in One Week."

Day 13: Romantic Verona ★★★

Tip : Book round-trip tickets ahead of time for a high-speed Frecciarossa or Frecciabianca train between Venice and Verona—the journey is just 1 hour, 10 minutes, compared with around 2 hours for local train service. Although he likely never set foot in the place, Shakespeare placed the world’s most famous love story, “Romeo and Juliet,” here. Wander Piazza dei Signori and take in another square, Piazza delle Erbe , before descending on the Arena di Verona : Evoking Rome’s Colosseum, it’s the world’s best-preserved gladiatorial arena, still used for monumental opera performances in summer months. Head back to Venice for the night. It is well worth booking your tickets for the high-speed Frecciabianca train ahead of time. The journey is just 1 hour, 10 minutes, compared with over 2 hours for local service.

Day 14: Milan ★★

Tip : Pre-book a fast train connection between Venice and Milan, a journey of between 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 hours. The most bustling city in Italy isn’t only about industry and commerce. Milan possesses one of Europe's great Gothic cathedrals, the Duomo . Its Biblioteca-Pinacoteca Ambrosiana , with cartoons by Raphael, is one of the great galleries of Italy. The city of St. Ambrose also hosts the Pinacoteca di Brera , a treasure-trove of art, laden with masterpieces from the likes of Mantegna and Piero della Francesca. Book ahead, too, to view Leonardo’s fading but still magnificent “ Last Supper ”. Stay overnight here if you are flying home or onward: It is one of the major transportation hubs of Europe.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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ITALY ROAD TRIP: Two Weeks Itinerary By a Local!

In BLOG , EMILIA ROMAGNA , ITALY , ROME , TRIPS IDEAS AND TIPS , TUSCANY , USEFUL GUIDES by Clelia Mattana 1 July, 2022 104 Comments

Contents - Open To Read

Are you planning on visiting Italy? Then you can’t miss this excellent two-week itinerary for your Italy Road trip, created by a local Italian! You’ll love it, I promise!

Ah, Italy… my country, my pride, my love! Being Italian is truly a privilege, so let me transfer some of my knowledge to you with some fantastic tips to have the best Italian road trip experience of your life!

Starting from  Rome , my favorite city in the world, through the famous green hills surrounding all the Tuscany and Umbria regions, not to mention the jaw-dropping view provided by the  Cinque Terre  – What more can you ask from a country? Italy is simply magnificent!

If you want a truly unique Italian experience:  Road trip is the main word! Nothing beats a road trip in Italy, trust me . I took my driving license in Rome (crazy, I know!), and from there, I discovered every region by car. Slowly, savoring the panoramic scenery that only my beautiful country can offer. Using the train is also a great option, but nothing beats driving around Italy! 

Video of this two weeks Italian Road trip itinerary!

The main cities are well connected, but I suggest you take as many detours from the highway as possible because it’s driving across the countryside that you will find the real hidden gems of Italy!

Pro Tip:  You might want to see as much as possible of Italy during your epic road trip, but in my opinion is better to pick 3-max 4 cities or villages. You don’t want to miss any reason and leave the rest as a last-minute choice. 

TWO WEEKS IN ITALY ROAD TRIP: CONTENT

Click to check the relevant chapter

• Day 1 – 2 |Rome Itinerary and Vatican City
• Day 3 | Lazio  -Roman Castles
• Day 4 | Tuscany – Montepulciano
• Day 5 | Tuscany – San Gimignano
• Day 6 |Tuscany – Pisa
• Day 7 |Tuscany – San Miniato

SECOND WEEK + BONUS TIP TO SAVE MONEY!

• Day 8 – 9 | Tuscany trip – Florence
• Day 10 | Emilia Romagna – Bologna
• Day 11 – 12| Liguria-Tour Cinque Terre
• Day 13 | Piemonte – Turin
• Day 14 – 15 |  Milan and Lake Como
• How to save money when booking your hotels!

What is The best Italian road trip itinerary for 2 weeks?

-I will give you some great recommendations on where to stay and how to save A LOT on accommodation fees later-

I’m Italian, and before leaving my beautiful country to travel indefinitely, I explored it by car, discovering every Italian region, so we can safely say that you are in good hands here!  From Rome to Milan, ending in the enchanting setting of Lake Como for a 15-day epic journey that you’ll never forget. I promise!  

In This 2 weeks Italy Road Trip Article You Will Discover:

—  the best places you should include in your trip to italy  —, —  the most interesting things to do and see in italy —, — cool tours or experiences you can book directly online —, — my recommended hotels/b&b that are perfect for your tour of italy  —, — how to use a genius (free) tool to save money on your hotel bookings — .

Without further ado, here are the breathless places you must include on your Italian road trip.

The Italian Road Trip Itinerary Map

Click to enlarge the image

An article about a road trip in Italy wouldn’t be complete without showing you the map of the itinerary with the starting point, stops on the way, and ending point of this incredible trip around Italy.

Depending on what kind of flights you find, you can obviously do it in reverse, starting from Milan, with a little detour up north to Lake Como and back.

It’s just 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to Varenna, on a lovely route as well) and then go back to Milan and start your Italian Tour heading south and departing from Rome Fiumicino airport.

Either way, you’ll see spectacular landscapes along the road, don’t forget that on a trip like this, moving from one place to another is a massive part of it, so enjoy it , drive safely and slowly and let the beauty of Italy sink in! -Map data ©2022 Google-

2 WEEKS ITALY ITINERARY DAY 1 – 2 | ROME &  VATICAN 

Ah, Rome – It always makes me wonder: Is there a way to describe this city without using clichè words? I lived in the eternal city for more than 3 years, and I love it (and hate it) to pieces 🙂 Even if Rome is the most predictable stop on this itinerary, a trip to Italy wouldn’t be complete without a stop in its Capital, right? It would be like spending 15 days in the UK and not visiting London. Well, for as much as I love London too,  Rome is … Rome! Yes, being Italian, I’m biased, but not without reason.

Is it possible to have a glimpse of the beauty of  Rome in one day ? Definitely yes! I could even see the main attractions in the center, rushing a bit of course, in just 5 hours one time! I always find the time for a quick pit stop to Rome, and every time I discover something new!

WHAT TO SEE IN ROME IN ONE DAY:

Stroll around the historic center of Rome : It is a must! Driving can be challenging or better put: you must be fearless to drive in Rome, so park up and walk or take the buses or metro. Use public transport while you’re there. Remember to stamp your bus tickets once you get on the bus or subway, especially if you take the train! (more valuable tips for your first time in Italy in a post coming soon!) 😉

Most Famous Things To Do In Rome:

• Saint Peter’s Church and Dome
• Piazza Di Spagna /Pincio Terrace
• Piazza Navona
• Fontana di Trevi
• Colosseum and Via Dei Fori Imperiali (at night is a must!)
• Lungotevere Castel Sant’Angelo (At sunrise, I did it: Best experience in Rome ever)
• Pincio Terrace (At sunset, for the best view of Rome)
• Trastevere (For dinner, obviously!)

WHAT TO SEE IN VATICAN CITY IN ONE DAY:

I took two days to explore the inner part of the city – which gave me ample time to include a day in the Vatican City. Enclaved in the town of Rome, Vatican City is officially the smallest recognized state in the whole world . Home to the Pope, the Vatican is the beautifully preserved state of the Catholic Church. It is definitely worth a visit!

Most Famous Things to do and see in Vatican City:

• Visit the Musei Vaticani.
• Take a tour of The Sistine Chapel.
• Visit the Vatican’s beautiful gardens.
• Admire the view from the top of St Peter’s Dome!

Helpful Info : As with most famous sights, just remember to buy your tickets early or online. Otherwise, be prepared for a few hours waiting around peak times (still worth it if you ask me!)

RECOMMENDED BEST HOTELS IN ROME:

RESIDENZA MONFY

I could say it’s one of the best places to stay on a road trip to Rome. Gianluca, the owner, is helpful and will give you all the info you’ll need to have the best time in Rome.

Everything is clean and well arranged, and the location (Via Veneto, in the center) is  perfect for public transport or walking around the main attractions. Most importantly, it has a parking option.  Trust me: in Rome, you WANT to have that option. Finding a parking spot is a nightmare for everyone living or visiting Rome. Click to  Check the Hotel out!

RECOMMENDED BEST TOURS IN ROME:

Beautiful Castel Sant’Angelo, another spot (among the endless landmarks in the eternal city) you can’t miss! Tips: Go there at sunrise… trust me, I did it, and it was SURREAL, to say the least!

Do you think you don’t have enough time to see it all and/or are not keen on walking all day with the risk of missing something important?  Then an organized tour is what you need to set your mind at peace . Below are the ones I recommend the most:

Hop On-Hop Off Ticket:  

Super Touristy, I know, but when you don’t have much time is so worth it! I remember hating that red bus, and I ended up loving it when I had only one day in Warsaw, and I managed to see it all (at my own pace, but they don’t miss the important spots).  Check it out!

Three Hours evening Walking tour:  

As Suggested, Rome is even more magical at sunset, so this Tour will take you to the main attractions and to the Pincio Terrace right at sunset (I love that spot, you’ll see!). Highly recommended as the guides are usually locals.  Check it out!

Other Tours in Rome:

There are a million tours I could recommend, but you can  check them out   here   or below (click for more tours on the list) and see if something strikes your attention. I  love this website, and it’s the one I use the most when I have to book my tours online . Super convenient and hassle-free. I don’t like to spend my precious time waiting to buy my tickets, especially in touristy cities like Rome!

The “Skip the lines” tickets are exceptional, and you won’t regret buying them as they will save you SO MUCH TIME!

ITALY ITINERARY DAY 3 | ROMAN CASTLES

Rome itself has many sites to see even just outside the city itself! Roman Castles (or as we call it “Castelli Romani”) are an opportunity to leave the metropolis and  immerse yourself in the natural and artistic beauty of the small medieval villages outside Rome.

WHAT TO SEE AT THE ROMAN CASTLES:

Leaving Rome, you can drive by the  ruins of the Baths of Caracalla  and onto the  Ancient Via Appia by the Church of Domine Quo Vadis . This Tour of the Roman Castles will take you along the  ‘Road of the Lakes’  through one of the hilly areas of volcanic origin that characterize the outskirts of Rome, the Colli Albani, with its many growing villages.  

Most Famous Things to do and see in The Roman Castles:

Castel Gandolfo:   On the shores of a volcanic lake, this is the village where the Pope has his summer residence. You’ll enjoy a stunning view over the Lake and a great but tranquil atmosphere.

Rocca di Papa and Grottaferrata:   They are fascinating villages to visit in the Roman Castles area. Both are known for their culture, sights, and gastronomic delicacies, including the traditional “porchetta.”

Frascati :   Towards the northern part of the  Colli Albani , you can reach Frascati, popular with visitors for its beauty and wine production. Here you can stop for a taste of local wine and products in a local tavern and absorb the flavor of the authentic village life in the Lazio region.

RECOMMENDED BEST HOTELS IN CASTELLI ROMANI:

ATLANTIS INN 

A lovely central hotel with fantastic views over the Lake, the owner Francesco is friendly, like most people from Rome and surroundings!  Breakfast is included, and a parking space is available too , mandatory for a stress-free Italy road trip, right? 🙂 Click to  Check the Hotel out!

ITALY 2 WEEKS ITINERARY DAY 4 | MONTEPULCIANO

I’d like to take credit for “finding’” this town, but I accidentally stumbled across  Montepulciano, the medieval town in lovely Tuscany hills  by complete accident. It was a ridiculously beautiful town to stumble upon, providing a welcome opportunity to fill up on some fresh Bresaola and a little wine (for the non-drivers of course).   

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN MONTEPULCIANO:

This lovely town is all about strolling around slowly admiring its beautiful historical buildings and the old medieval atmosphere, so take your time to enjoy it, find an excellent trattoria to eat, drink espresso and  take it “the Italian way” = EASY & SLOW 🙂  

Things To Do in Montepulciano:

The Main Square:   The lovely fountain on the side, the Duomo and Palazzo Tarugi, and Palazzo Contucci.

Palazzo del Comune Tower:  Do you want to admire the incredible views of the Tuscany Hills surrounding this lovely village? Climb the Tower, and you won’t be disappointed!

Gate Porta del Prato and Corso street:   Almost every medieval village in Italy has a main gate to the town. Cross “La Porta del Prato” and stroll around the “Corso street,” with its lovely shops, elegant palaces and renaissance buildings, the church of Sant’Agostino, and the Palazzo Cervini.

RECOMMENDED BEST HOTELS IN MONTEPULCIANO:

ALBERGO IL MARZOCCO

Located within the medieval walls of Montepulciano, this hotel is quite remarkable! Built in the 16th century, it is the oldest hotel in town. It has a bar, free Wi-Fi, rooms with views of Lake Trasimeno or the town, and free parking 🙂 Click to  Check the Hotel out!

RECOMMENDED TOURS IN MONTEPULCIANO:

Being a tiny town, after you have admired its historical center, there are many activities you can book for an even more memorable experience!

Montepulciano Terme: Wellness & Wine Experience:   Honestly? In my view, this is an absolute must (I’m a SPA and wine lover). After driving and walking for hours, you deserve a bit of relaxation! Check out this fantastic experience  here .

Montalcino/Pienza/Montepulciano Full day wine tour: This is one of the best-selling tours in the area and within reason! If you want to relax 100% and see 3 lovely villages instead of one (while tasting the best wines in the region), this is it! Check out all the details here .

TWO WEEKS ITALY ITINERARY DAY 5 | SAN GIMIGNANO

While many visit San Gimignano, the  town declared by UNESCO to be part of the World’s Architectural Heritage , for a very short time, there is plenty to do to keep you busy an entire day if not more!

How do you pronounce/spell “San Gimignano”?! Maybe the most challenging part is genuinely pronouncing its name correctly. Well then, I’m Italian, and I will help you out once and for all: San Gimignano pronunciation sounds like:  San jee mee NYAH noh . Try to repeat it a few times faster, and that’s it! 😉

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SAN GIMIGNANO:

I had the luck to discover the town I have declared the loveliest of the entire Tuscany Region during a Road trip from Rome to Florence. It was a super dark and rainy day, but my first reaction when I left the car in the spacious parking lot just before the town walls was:  WOW, WHAT IS THIS PLACE? 

As soon as you enter San Gimignano, you will feel like time has stopped, and you are either back to the medieval era or in a lovely fairy tale!

Things to do in San Gimignano:

A stroll down the entire town is required, as well as a visit to the Duomo di San Gimignano and the Palazzo Comunale to view the Pinacoteca of Medieval art.

Torre Grossa views:  C limb to the very top of the Torre Grossa, the tallest tower in town to enjoy the best view of San Gimignano ever. The green hills and spectacular Tuscany landscape will make it worth the effort!

Enjoy the food in Piazza della Cisterna:   From gelato to die for to a delicious lunch or dinner at the many restaurants specializing in Tuscan cuisine. I still remember the cute little restaurant in one of the small alleys, where I tasted the best spaghetti with clams (10 years ago!)

Montestaffoli Fortress:  Climbing up to the remains of the Montestaffoli fortress and lots of tastings of the local white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, will round up your unforgettable visit to San Gimignano. You will fall in love with the town, I promise!

WHERE TO STAY IN SAN GIMIGNANO:

HOTEL BEL SOGGIORNO

One of the best hotels in San Gimignano! You’ll have everything at your doorstep: public parking just 50mt away, breathtaking views from the windows, and a superb location, right in the city center. This hotel will be the cherry on top of your fantastic experience in San Gimignano! Click to  Check the Hotel out!

RECOMMENDED TOURS IN SAN GIMIGNANO:

There are many tours, but they depart from other cities like Siena to visit San Gimignano, but since you are on your epic road trip, you don’t need those! The only one I feel I can recommend is actually a “detour” or a secondary option to your itinerary.

Visit Pisa and Lucca (and climb the lining Tower):   Your next stop on the map should be Pisa, but what if you want to slow down and stay a day more in San Giminiano? after all the beauty of these road trips is that you can change your itinerary on a whim. 

With this Tour, you’ll see both Pisa and Lucca; climb the famous leaning tower, and return to San Giminiano for another fabulous night before resuming driving the next day, heading to Florence via San Miniato.  If you like this alternative itinerary, check out the detail of the Tour  here .

14 DAYS ITALY TINERARY DAY 6 | PISA

An obvious choice for any visitor to Italy! Pisa and its famous leaning tower has become a symbolic representation of Italy across the globe.

WHAT TO SEE IN PISA IN ONE DAY:

Pisa’s historic town is relatively small and can be explored in as little as one day.  It’s the perfect place to stop en route between Cinque Terre and Florence. You can stop here for food and explore the Pisa Baptistry, The Leaning Tower in Piazza Dei Miracoli, and San Sisto. Don’t forget to strike “that cheesy pose” when you’re there! 🙂

Yes, I did it too… so why I didn’t put it in here? Because when I went there, digital cameras didn’t exist yet, so  we used the whole film to try and be in the right position for the photo. Only one had the right angle, but it was super blurry!  

RECOMMENDED HOTELS IN PISA:

HOTEL DI STEFANO

If you want to rest up and spend the night in Pisa, this is the perfect hotel for you; right in the city center, a mere 5-minute walk from the leaning Tower, it provides a parking space on-site, buffet breakfast, and has excellent reviews 🙂 Click to  Check the Hotel out!

ITALY ITINERARY FOR 2 WEEKS DAY 7 | SAN MINIATO

San Miniato is a gracious small town which is perfect as a quick (or long, it’s up to you!) pit stop on your way to Florence.

WHY YOU SHOULD SEE/STOP IN SAN MINIATO:

San Miniato has always given a warm welcome to (friendly) travelers! Hence why you should go! 🙂 As the main town was a major thoroughfare for medieval traders between Rome and the rest of Europe, San Miniato became shaped by its constantly changing population and exchange of exotic and sought-after goods.

Nowadays, the town still welcomes travelers from all over the world with  stunning sites like The Duomo, The Tower of Frederick, and the medieval precinct of the town . You can spend the whole afternoon here filling up on local olives! Isn’t that a good enough reason for you to stop in there? I know it would be for me 🙂

RECOMMENDED HOTELS IN SAN MINIATO:

HOTEL SAN MINIATO

Since this is YOUR road trip, you might decide to spend the night in San Miniato. In this case, I highly recommend this hotel, located in a former convent; it offers  free parking space and even a SPA and wellness center  to recharge your batteries 🙂 Pisa and Florence are only 45 min away by car! Click to  Check the Hotel out!

14 DAYS ITALY TINERARY DAY 8 | FLORENCE

I love visiting certain cities more than once, and Florence is one of my favorites for this purpose. I was 20 when one lazy afternoon my friends and I decided to hop on the first train available from Turin (I was studying at University then) to visit this glorious city!

It was a rather cold October weekend, and we slept without a tent at Piazzale Michelangelo, an amazing spot with amazing city views from the hill.  Florence may be an obvious choice to include on a road trip to Italy, but don’t let its popularity stop you from visiting . In fact, it’s never stopped me. Each time is completely different and unique.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN FLORENCE IN ONE/TWO DAYS:

This beautiful Tuscan city with its super friendly people has SO MUCH to offer that two days should be the minimum to fully enjoy it.

Best Things to do and see in Florence:

Oh my…where do I even start? Just like Rome, Florence is packed with unforgettable experiences and sights. I will try to give you a glimpse of what it can offer.

The Uffizi:   If you love Renaissance art, a stop at the Uffizi is mandatory. Obviously, the lines to get in are insane, but once inside, your jaw will drop from all the beautiful paintings by Botticelli, the statues, and the whole atmosphere.

Piazzale Michelangelo:   It will give you the most incredible view of Florence from above, especially at sunset. Perfect for photography lovers. If you go there, think about me sleeping with only a blanket on the ground. What an epic trip!

Giardini di Boboli:  We spent a whole afternoon there, and you can’t miss these gardens for anything in the world; the main word here is GREEN. So many green fountains, groomed trees, statues, and hidden caves. Go there and … RELAX!

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN FLORENCE:

Visit the “Duomo:   Famous for its red-tiled dome, colored marble facade & the Giotto tower. A beauty for the eye and impossible to miss when strolling around the beautiful historic center.

Santa Croce Church: Its gothic facade and the vast plaza are well-known landmarks in Florence, famous for being the final resting place of Galileo and Michelangelo. You can visit their tombs in Santa Croce.

Ponte Vecchio:   The oldest and more peculiar bridge in Florence, it still houses many jewelry shops and buildings, a typical practice back in the day. It is very suggestive to walk by the bridge or over the Arno river banks, especially at sunset, to admire it from the “outside.”

Ponte Vecchio at sunset. Such a peculiar and beautiful bridge. You won’t see anything like this anymore in Italy.

WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE:

HOTEL PITTI PALACE AL PONTE VECCHIO

This hotel has the most perfect location. It is easy to find at the very end of the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. The hotel is spotless; it has a parking space available, and rooms have a super  view of the entrance to the bridge . Breakfast is served on the terrace on the 6th floor offers a lovely view of the Duomo and Florence skyline. What more can you ask for? Click to  Check the Hotel!

RECOMMENDED BEST TOURS IN FLORENCE:

If you stay for two days in this magnificent city, you will have some spare time to choose from some of the most incredible tours. Since there are so many to choose from, I put some of my favorites below, and  you can check out more tours by clicking on the whole list .

One I strongly recommend? The  “Fast line” ticket to enter the Uffizi Gallery ! You don’t want to waste your precious time waiting in an endless line, which will make you skip it, allowing you to discover much more of Florence.

14 DAYS ITALIAN ITINERARY DAY 10 | BOLOGNA

Often neglected on travel itineraries in favor of Italy’s more famous hotspots,  Bologna has plenty to offer tourists , from food (ah, the food guys!!) to art and hidden secrets.

Bologna is known in the Italian language as “la Dotta, la Rossa e la Grassa”: “ the educated one” in a nod to its University, Europe’s oldest; “the red one,” about the terracotta hues of its buildings and the city’s historic communist leanings; and most importantly, “the fat one,” about the delicious food.

THINGS TO DO IN BOLOGNA IN ONE/TWO DAYS:

I will give you one day in Bologna /Emilia Romagna only because I have to stay within the 2 weeks Italy Road trip Itinerary.  If you are free to change your plans a little (or are lucky to have more time), I would strongly recommend discovering Bologna and Emilia Romagna for at least 3-4 days .

Check out my article “What to do in Bologna and Emilia Romagna.”  I’m sure you’ll love it, I tried so many things, and the pictures speak for themselves!

Best Things to do in Bologna:

The Markets:   The markets in the center are great for fresh fruit and pastries. Via del Pratello is an excellent spot for lunch, and the student area near Via Zamboni has plenty of options for a filling “aperitivo” – but you can’t go far wrong wherever you choose to eat.

The Two Towers:   Believe it or not, Bologna’s leaning tower would put Pisa’s one to shame! The Two Towers are an iconic symbol of the city, and the shorter one, the Garisenda Tower, leans much more dramatically than Pisa’s leaning tower. It is well known (in Italy) that Dante Alighieri invoked this tower in his “Divina Commedia”, so look out for the plaque with the quote.

Giardini Margherita:   One of my favorites spot in Bologna to chill and relax to end the day after walking its gorgeous streets! You will find mostly local people, and there are so many hidden spots for a nice picnic while seeing the turtles in one of the ponds inside. Highly recommended (and easy to get there by bus too.

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN BOLOGNA AND EMILIA ROMAGNA:

Visit Ravenna: Lovely city easily reachable by train for a one-day trip and famous for Dante’s remainings and the many stunning churches.

Explore the Apennines:   Definitely, a must if you have some more time; it was the highlight of my trip to Emilia Romagna. Lake Baccio and Lake Santo are amongst the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen in Italy (and not a tourist in sight either!)

The beauty of the Apennines in Emilia Romagna. The tranquil landscape you can admire at Lake Baccio!

WHERE TO STAY IN BOLOGNA:

HOTEL CORONA D’ORO 

An excellent centrally located hotel with a private garage in a restricted traffic area, a great feature to have (since you’re in the middle of your Italian Road trip!). Friendly staff and great reviews. Abundant breakfast with lots of choices. The rooms are nice and clean, with comfortable beds, crisp linens, and many amenities.  Check this Hotel!

RECOMMENDED TOURS IN BOLOGNA:

As usual, in the most beautiful Italian cities (and Bologna is definitely one of them!), you will have plenty of choices if you want to book a tour online. What I recommend is going for the food tours . Bologna and Emilia Romagna are the top in terms of delicious dishes, so you can’t go wrong! Below are a few tour options, but click the button to see more and enjoy the experience 🙂

2 WEEKS ITALY TINERARY DAY 11 – 12 | CINQUE TERRE

One of my favorite coastlines in Italy and a must-see on any road trip around Italy,  Cinque Terre national park  is an area around 1.5 – 2 hours’ drive north of Pisa. The region is characterized by its dramatic, rugged landscape and of course, its 5 picturesque terraced towns that only beg to be explored (from North to South):

MONTEROSSO AL MARE  | VERNAZZA | CORNIGLIA | MANAROLA | RIOMAGGIORE

Even if not all the 5 villages show on this map, the train stops in each one of them. The road in white you see behind the red line is the road you should use my car, and it takes around 2 hours drive. Image credit: Map data ©2022 Google

One of the best tips I’ve learned is to leave the car at La Spezia city and take the train between these 5 towns . It’s usually the easiest way to discover them without the issue of finding a parking spot (unless you decide to choose one of the villages to stay in for the night).

THE 5 VILLAGES TO SEE IN CINQUE TERRE IN 2 DAYS:

Obviously the main attractions of the Cinque Terre National Park are the famous villages, so let’s check them out in detail to see what distinguishes one from the other, they are all marvelous and unique!

From the top: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia

1) RIOMAGGIORE:   The most southern village of Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore is a beautiful town to sit back and enjoy your afternoon. Grab some local food (especially fried calamari) from the street vendors and head for the rocky harbor front. Helpful tip: spend a good few hours dipping your feet and legs into the sea! This town is a fabulous place to watch the sunset, and why not take a swim and cool down after a day under the scorching Italian sun.

2) MANAROLA:   Arguably one of the most photographed towns in Cinque Terre, Manarola is a beautiful place to explore and, of course, grab a bite to eat! Every time I visit Manarola, I put on 4kg in weight! The gelato, the calamari, the wine … it’s all just too good!

3) CORNIGLIA:   Unlike the other four villages of the Cinque Terre, Corniglia is not perched on the seafront but at about 100 meters high on the top of a cliff. Warning: Trying to walk in the scorching midday heat is not the greatest idea – you could end up sweaty, hot, dehydrated, and no doubt looking a bit messy 🙂 you can use the connecting shuttle bus from the train station instead. It takes about 5 minutes to reach Corniglia. A perfect place to enjoy the views of this magnificent area!

Top: Vernazza – Bottom: Monterosso al Mare

4) VERNAZZA:   Dating back nearly 1000 years, the iconic Vernazza is still standing to show you a beautiful piece of historic Italian charm – that I fall in love with every time. This city really stole my heart! Don’t forget to see the Church of Santa Margherita and the hidden Vernazza beach just off Piazza Marconi.

5) MONTEROSSO AL MARE:   The westernmost of all the Cinque Terre villages is Monterosso al Mare, famous for its wider beach and for the many open spaces compared to other countries. What I love most about Cinque Terre is that it feels like a “personality test.” Everyone has their favorite village for very specific reasons. Monterosso al Mare is my least favorite town in the Cinque Terre, but that’s because my heart has already been stolen from Vernazza’s colorful houses (I love colorful houses) 🙂

BEST HOTELS IN CINQUETERRE AND LA SPEZIA:

LEVANTE RESIDENCE 

Just minutes from La Spezia center. Clean, spacious rooms with kitchen. A good option is to have a base there for your La Spezia Gulf or Cinque Terre trips. Safe, private parking and simple breakfast. The train station is within walking distance, and free parking is a plus. Highly recommended. Check out this Hotel!  

BEST TOURS IN CINQUE TERRE:

When you visit the Cinque Terre villages, you can take your time and explore them on your own or book a guided tour to discover the secret places, best restaurants, and panoramic views.

One of the best ones is definitely from Florence to Cinque Terre and it’s most suitable if you are flexible with your dates and are on an Italy road trip, coming from the south and ending in the northern part of the country, like in this case.

Depending on your budget, some of these tours, especially the boat ones, are worth the money . They will provide you with a completely different experience. As usual … it’s up to you to decide! Sometimes I like to opt for a tour, other times I prefer to discover an area on my own.

ITALIAN 2 WEEKS ITINERARY DAY 13 | TURIN

I lived in Turin for 8 years while studying at the University, and not only do I know the city well, but I love it pieces! Unfortunately, the city is one of the least known and appreciated by tourists. While most of those visiting Italy head for the Rome-Florence-Venice triptych, Turin remains off the tourist radar. What a shame.

Maybe is because the city has always been associated with Agnelli and his automotive empire (Fiat). However, people forget that another dynasty, not industrial but royal, chose Turin as its capital eight decades earlier.

Nineteenth-century Turin was also a favorite of intellectuals and artists such as Nietzsche, who loved the city for its austere elegance, atmosphere, literary cafes, and food. So, this seething city should definitely be on your wish list for your Italian road trip.

THINGS TO DO IN TURIN IN ONE DAY:

The beauty of Turin, compared to other Italian cities, is that it is easy to get around on foot and public transport is excellent . I have never used a car in 8 years, and I know every street as it is easy to walk to the city center and some of the most beautiful palaces and squares.

The beautiful Mole Antonellliana by night

Best Things to do in Turin:

Il Quadrilatero Romano: One of my favorite places in Turin for its many restaurants, aperitif bars, and lovely streets filled with history from the Roman empire. Great for an exciting night out in Turin!

La Gran Madre Church:   The “Gran Madre” is a Neoclassic-style church located in front of Piazza Vittorio. Straightforward to reach by foot from Piazza Castello through via Po (famous for its many shops, bars, and restaurants), it’s stunning at night.

Piazza Castello/Via Garibaldi:   Turin’s central square is lined with museums, theatres, and cafes. Dominating it is the part-medieval, part-baroque Palazzo Madama, the original seat of the Italian parliament. To the north is the beautiful facade of the Palazzo Reale, “The Royal Palace” built for Carlo Emanuele II in the mid-1600s. If you are up for some shopping, on the left of Palazzo Reale, you will reach Via Garibaldi, packed with high-end and budget shops (I used to live in the student house in that area!) 😉

OTHER THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN TURIN

Il Castello /Parco Del Valentino:   My favorite spot in town, a massive park with botanical gardens, statues, and, of course, the iconic castle. Perfect for a romantic walk or just to chill during the hot summer days. You can admire the spectacular views of the Valentino Castel by night just by crossing one of the bridges over the river PO. Highly recommended!

La Reggia di Venaria: Declared UNESCO Heritage Site, the Reggia di Venaria is a spot you can’t miss. The palace is marvelous, and during summertime, you can enjoy a wide array of events, from artists performing accompanied by relaxing music to video-mapping shows.

Basilica di Superga:   Another fantastic place to visit in Turin! The church is on a hill where you can admire the city from above. Perfect at sunset to see the city lights and chill after visiting the inside of the beautiful Basilica.

The beautiful Castello del Valentino in the “Parco Del Valentino (Valentine’s Park). One of my most precious places in Turin. Day or night it is truly marvelous!

Museo Egizio:   An excellent place for people passionate about Egyptian History, this museum is the most important one in Italy as it preserves some rare mummified human remains and several Egyptian statues.  

Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace):   Located in Piazza Castello; if you visit it, I promise that the inside will leave you totally speechless. I still remember the first time I saw it, admiring the beautiful dancing room, statues, paintings, and seemingly never-ending luxurious rooms in awe. No wonder it was included in the list of World Heritage sites in 1997. Totally worth it!

The beauty of Turin at sunset: Ponte Isabella over the River Po that divides the city in two.

WHERE TO STAY IN TURIN – BEST HOTELS :

HOTEL URBANI

Excellent location to head off in any direction and explore. The hotel itself is lovely. Accommodating and friendly reception staff. Delicious breakfast, charming rooms, and parking space. The perfect mix to set you up for the day and relax once back from your strolling in Turin.  Check out this Hotel!

14 DAYS TALY ITINERARY DAY 14-15 | MILAN & LAKE COMO

DISCOVER MILAN:

Milan is one of the trendiest cities in Italy . It is the city of fashion and the economic capital of Italy. Both traits are clearly visible when you’re walking around the city. Modern and trendy skyscrapers scattered here and there, surrounded by beautiful historical buildings throughout the city center.

Many of Milan’s most exciting sights and attractions are not readily apparent, so you’ll need to dig deeper to discover the gems that make the city unique.

Luckily, Milan is surprisingly walkable and, at times, feels more like a compact town than a major European metropolis. And once you start chipping away at its foreboding exterior, you’ll find untold treasures below the surface: priceless works of art, beautiful eccentric buildings, world-class restaurants, and oases of calm. Explore the best things to do in Milan and remember: appearances aren’t everything.

DISCOVER LAKE COMO:

Como is filled with luxury Villas you can visit, like Villa Balbianello here, a perfect setting even for weddings!

The itinerary for your Italy Road trip started in the glorious city of Rome, and it couldn’t end less gloriously in the fantastic Lake Como setting. Relax in the shade of a tree in front of the lake, admire its beautiful views … and, who knows? You might even spot George Clooney (owner of one of the most beautiful villas in Lake Como), his buddy Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, or any other A-list celebrity, but there’s so much more to this destination than its famed visitors.

The glacial Lake Como is a mere 1.5-hour drive north of Milan and only 30 minutes or so from the border of Switzerland. The biggest draw to Lake Como is its natural beauty – especially the scenic mountainous region that always leaves me in awe.

Hop on the ferries that cross the lake; it’s a perfect way to explore the beautiful little towns surrounding it like Menaggio, Bellagio, and Varenna, to mention but a few of my favorites.

THINGS TO DO IN MILAN IN ONE DAY:

In Milan, as previously stated, it is super easy to get around by walking a bit or via their efficient public services (the underground system is excellent). This way you can do quite a lot in one day.

The most famous things to do in Milan are:

• The famous Duomo di Milano: The symbol of the city.
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (on the left of the Duomo)
• Sforza Castle for a bit of history
• Parco Sempione to end your day in total relaxation!

THINGS TO DO IN LAKE COMO IN ONE DAY:

Honestly? If it was for me (personal taste!) I would spend just half a day in Milan and aim straight to Lake Como, but the itinerary is yours, so maybe you are a fashion addict and want to spend a whole afternoon shopping in Milan 🙂 Either way, Lake Como would deserve at least 2 days of exploring.

So, what to do and see in Lake Como?

• Visit Varenna, a lovely village with great views of the lake.
• Take the ferry! You’ll discover the hidden spots as well as the more popular sights.
• Visit Villa del Balbianello
• Discover Castello di Vezio for awesome views

Villa Del Balbianello, Lake Como

Best Things to do and see in Milan:

Il Duomo Di Milano:   Do I really need to tell you why you should visit it? There is so much information online, and the pictures speak for themselves. It goes without saying that this should be your first stop in Milan, no question about it. And it’s as beautiful as in the pictures. My only tip: go there early in the morning; you will make the most of the experience!

Castello Sforzesco: Nearby the Parco Sempione, the Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castel) is a mandatory stop on your visit to Milan; apart from its famous towers, it hosts several museums from the Ancient Arts to the Pinacoteca and the Egyptian museum, just to name a few. If you love history, this is a great place to visit.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: Just on the left side of the Duomo di Milano, its architecture (especially the roof) will leave you in awe. You’ll find many shops, from luxury ones to nice cafes where to sip an espresso and relax, bookstores, restaurants, and more. Since it’s in Piazza Duomo, you can easily make it your second stop in Milan.

Best Things to do and see in Lake Como:

Villa Del Balbianello: Located on the left wing of the Lake, near the village of Lenno, it is a must-see. Beautiful views of the Lake and the Villa with its terrace garden are genuinely out of this world! One of the best spots to admire Lake Como’s mighty beauty. It’s undoubtedly one of the most touristy and popular Villas to visit.

Villa Carlotta: Just a few kilometers away from Villa Del Balbianello (heading north of Lenno), it’s a true gem with its botanical gardens, museums, the staircase, and the stunning entrance to the Lake. Not to be missed! (I will write an article just for the villas to visit around Lake Como as they are jaw-dropping!)

Take the ferry:   One of the best ways to enjoy Lake Como is by Ferry. There are both public and private ferries. The public one is relatively cheap, but obviously, it doesn’t let you hop off to explore what you want. You can either find the private companies online looking for “private ferry lake Como” or, as I suggest below, I’d recommend the Tour from Milan without the hassle of driving there and back.

MORE THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MILAN

I Navigli Di Milano: A system of canals running in the heart of Milan, surrounded by lovely cocktail bars, are the perfect location to spend your dinner and after-dinner time, not to be missed for an excellent aperitif. Great for a romantic walk at sunset as well. It’s easy to reach by public transport, which is always a bonus!

Parco Sempione:   Located in the heart of Milan, Parco Sempione is a lovely park where you can relax, chill and visit the Sforza Castel and the Arch of peace, two of the most famous landmark in Milan. 

Via Montenapoleone:   If you are in Milan and love fashion, via Montenapoleone is the place you want to be! Filled with luxury shops, whatever brand you are looking for, you will find it there! Splurge as much as you want and enjoy!

The famous Navigli Di Milano, great for the nightlife and the peculiar atmosphere

MORE THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN LAKE COMO

Trekking/hiking Lake Como:   If you have some time or, during your Italy Road trip planning, you decide to skip a place or two, this is one of the best and more rewarding activities to do, with breathtaking views over the lake. The most famous walks/hikes are the Greenway Del Lago and Spina Verde (suitable for everyone, they will take you to the top spots like Villa del Balbianello). For more advanced trekking and hiking, organizing with private companies is better.

Castello di Vezio:   Located in the middle of Lake Como, with an overview of Varenna village, it is a lovely spot for jaw-dropping sights of the lake and its history. It was built over a thousand years ago. Don’t forget to climb its famous tower to enjoy even more incredible panoramic views!

The stunning views you can admire at Lake Como are endless!

WHERE TO STAY IN MILAN AND LAKE COMO :

HOTEL BELLAGIO (LAKE COMO)

In the city center, accessed directly from Bellagio’s main square by 38 cobblestone steps, Hotel Bellagio is within walking distance of the town’s shops, cafés, and restaurants. Parking is available, free cancellation, and incredible views of the Lake.  Check out this Hotel!    If you prefer to take a day tour to Lake Como and base yourself in Milan, check out the  NH PORTA NUOVA hotel, which is convenient and well-located.

Considering the allure of Milan, not only as a tourist destination but also as a potential long-term residence, the prospect of renting an apartment in this trendy city opens up a world of possibilities. Imagine having the iconic Duomo di Milano as a backdrop to your daily life or strolling through the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for your daily dose of luxury and culture.

Beyond the famous landmarks, Milan offers a lifestyle that seamlessly blends modernity with history. Long-term rentals in Milan provide the opportunity to delve into the city’s hidden gems, from charming neighborhoods to authentic local experiences, creating a genuine connection with this cosmopolitan hub. As you embark on your exploration of the city, consider how  renting an apartment in Milan  not only grants you a comfortable abode but also an immersive journey into the vibrant tapestry of Italian life.

BEST TOURS IN LAKE COMO :

Given the proximity of Lake Como to Milan, you can opt for booking one of the grand tours from the Lombardy Capital instead of spending money (and time) using your car. Many people choose this option, and they can enjoy a full day in Lake Como without stress and see all the top sights stated above.

Usually, when talking about the tours, my advice is to decide which option is more suitable for you (car or tour) but in this case, the day trips from Milan are genuinely the best option, also money-wise. Highly recommended!

THE TAKEAWAY OF THIS ITALY ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

As you might have noticed, I tried to fit in as many “pit stops” as possible for your 15 days on the road in Italy. I know many people would rather rush a bit to see as many beautiful spots as possible.

That said, If you want to travel slower and stay more in one place, you can easily rearrange this itinerary by skipping a few places, no problem!

I hope you enjoyed my article and that you will be inspired to visit my beautiful Italy, loving my country as much as I do!

If you have any questions or locations you have visited that you particularly liked, shoot me a message in the comments below, I’d love to hear about your experience!

Images credits/attributions: Shutterstock.com (except for Emilia Romagna)

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This blog post has truly uplifted me and provided me with the guidance I was seeking. Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights in such an inspiring way. Your generosity and willingness to help others is greatly appreciated.

I like your blog! It is awesome! You give many information about travel! It’s really great! Also, Italy trip is great! I think We should travel to Italy.

I’m a foreigner living in Rome, and I must say that it is the greatest city in the world. The pros of living there are just too many, but one has to look for them. If you’re the kind of person that just wants a smooth, predictable life – let’s say 9 to 5 job, reaching home at 6 by train and finding your parcel delivered at the doorstep – then it’s not your kind of place. Rome is instead for the kind of people who like adventure, going out and having fun. You do your morning walk among the ancient ruins. You spend a lot of time in the bar with friends. You go to swim in the sea during summers, and to ski in the mountains during winters. You face day-to-day inconveniences, but in that situation you help each other, knowing that they’d help you too.

My personal take is that the things which distinguishes Rome and Italy from other parts of the developed world is that for better and for worse, there’s no “consumer” culture over there. The mentality is centered doing the bare minimum needed for survival, and not on getting the maximum output as is the norm elsewhere nowadays. Overall I wouldn’t say that Italians are (stereotypical) lazy, but just not hardworking and with generally modest expectations from life.

Hi Nicole, thanks for your insights! I agree with a lot of what you said and Rome no matter what will always be my favorite city in the world, with all its imperfections too. What I had to think about more is the work ethic and expectations. I would put it differently but I understand what you are expressing. The idea of us being stereotypically lazy is like everyone else thinking that in the US people are only driven by work and goals and can’t appreciate life. We don’t know if people don’t appreciate life there for real, this is our idea. Same with Italians (and you also need to do a big distinction between northern Italy and southern Italy) people might be thinking they have high expectations for their lives, also money wise but maybe compared to your personal experience we are not, and so on. So what I’m trying to say s that things are VERY relative and I try not no generalize a country (altough I know first hand how difficutl it can be) . Enjoy my beautiful Rome!!

VERY INFORMATIVE!! KEEP POSTING THESE ARTICLES!!!

Hey, thanks for sharing this fantastic information with us. Can’t wait to book our holiday to Italy! Thank you and please continue to share blog posts about Italy, they are very useful, especially coming from a local!

quite impressive

Thank you for a very interesting article. I greatly appreciate the time you take to do all the research to put together your posts. I especially enjoyed this one!!

What a great article! I have to say I did a bicycle trip in northern Sardinia, from Olbia to Santa Teresa passing by Maddallena. I have been to many many beaches in my life but I have never seen so beautiful beaches like in Maddalena. The colors of the sea was absolutely stunning! And the scenery in North Sardinia is unique, almost lunar.

This being said, we did a road trip in France from Nice to to Bordeaux avoiding the highways and going through the little villages. Back country road trip. In our mind, the road is as important as the destination. We prefer B&Bs (I think you call them agroturismo in Italy) where we can talk with the hosts and guests and get their ideas about the nicest places in their corner of the country..

So……we are planning a 3 weeks road trip in Italy, September 9 to 30, 2022 more or less. Probably from Venice to Rome and maybe going down to Sorento. We were planning to go to most of the places you mentioned in your article except for Milan and Torino which I’ve already been and not so keen to visit twice. So, adding a week to your 2 weeks itinerary, I was wondering if you have any suggestions for those additional days.

Thank you so much and keep on your good work!

Hey Stephan, wow I’m envious just reading all you will see on your road trip in my beautiful Italy! If you have 2 more weeks I would definitely go : 1) Val D’orcia in Tuscany, it’s BREATHTAKING, I want to make a photo post with the photo I shoot. Just that will convince you. I stayed in a lovely home rented in Castiglione D’orcia and it has been one of the best road trips ever. 2) South of Rome I’d go to Sorrento, Capri, and all the Costiera Amalfitana. It’s mainstream clearly but you can’t miss it! This would deserve a full week to fully explore all the little corners of this beautiful place.

There will be so many places I can add but I don’t want to overwhelm you. If I had these 2 additional weeks I would explore more of Tuscany in general, and the Val D’Orcia area in particular, and all the Costiera Amalfitana. It will make for a fabulous Italy Road trip!! Plus the time of the year is perfect, still warm but with fewer tourists. What can I add if not… Enjoy Italy!! 🙂

Cheers Clelia

Thanks for reaching out! We will definitely put Val D’orcia on our itinerary. Can you let us know what was the lovely home you stayed there? Always nice to go somewhere recommended by some one who stayed there. So 2 weeks from Venice to Rome and one week in the costiera Amalfitana, Right?

Hi Stephan, yes I’d say 1 week in the Costiera Amalfitana, not less… and the remaining 2 weeks you go from Venice to Rome. Oh, I envy you right now 🙂 Let me check the name of the place! I booked it with booking.com I remember so it still should be in my records 🙂 Ok, after a while I found it! It’s the lovely home called “ La Cantina di P ” I hope you didn’t book anything yet because this was a truly lovely place, especially the location was so amazing! Let me know if you need any more help and enjoy your road trip to Italy!

Fantastic! Thanks for the valuable information and we will definitaly book there, Covid permitting. Keep on the great work! Grazie

Thanks Stephan! I’m so glad you liked my Italy road trip itinerary, I’m supposed to create the second part, from Rome to … Sardinia because I had to leave out so much. Two weeks are not nearly enough to enjoy the beauty of Italy and everything it has to offer 🙂 Fingers crossed about the Covid yeah. We had some small trips in Italy so it’s not super bad but in winter it’s always a bit worse. With the proper precautions, I believe we will be able to have a sort of “normal” life again soon.

Wow what a wonderful article, spectacular pics. Italy’s a beautiful country and everyone should know this. I have been twice and looking forward to visiting it after the pandemic. Thanks for sharing with us this fab post.

Italy is Indeed a good place to visit in the world. Being a travel enthusiast I learn that Italy is a place where every city is beautiful as well as historical. You will find the different kind of travellers in Italy and its the place where you can meet new peoples and interact with them. Thanks for sharing this post with us.

Great pics and information. This is my dream destination, I would like to visit here someday. Hope to hear more from you. Thank you.

Very nice information thank you for sharing! We can’t travel to Italy right now but this will be a huge help for when we will be able to visit!

You should work for the Italian tourism department, they are in dire need of people like you. Unlike France and Spain who have done a great job in marketing themselves, in Italy international tourism is unfortunately restricted only to some areas of the country (city of Rome, Veneto, Lombardia, Liguria, Tuscany and maybe Sardinia). Nice to see that you mentioned Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna here. Then there is central Italy outside of Rome, and especially “Mezzogiorno” that I think is super underrated (I’m from Puglia and in my own biased eyes, it’s the closest thing to Paradise on Earth). Also, as much as I love Rome, my favorite city in the world will always be Napoli, which I would recommend to every visitor in Italy.

Ciao Gianmarco, thanks for your kind words, I sadly must agree with you about how we promote certain parts of Italy and completely disregards other parts, and actually this article is just part 1 of another than covers all the regions in Southern Italy. I have been to Puglia and LOVED IT!! (and it’s obviously included in the second article that Iìm going to publish). I’m from Sardinia so we can both say we are very lucky! Interesting about you loving Napoli so much! Why ? Mine is Rome (I have lived there for years) but also Napoli is beautiful for sure!

Napoli is just another city that has no equivalent in the world. First of all, it has the most beautiful landscape in all of Italy, if not the world (try searching “panorama più bello del mondo”). The city has the largest historic center in whole Europe, and just like Rome, it is full of castles, churches and ancient ruins (have you been to the underground areas). Despite everyone in the world consuming pizza these days, all others are fake except Neapolitan one. While the city center still retains it’s ancient vibe with narrow, chaotic streets full of people, some of the most beautiful metro stations of the world are located just below it, highlighting that Neapolitans and Italians in general continue to be great innovators of contemporary times, even if we are obsessed with with our past and aren’t obsessed with becoming “successful” by contemporary definition. Than of course the surrounding areas (Pompei, Amalifi, Capri, Amalfi, Sorrento) are also among some of the most breathtaking places. Overall, I find Rome and Napoli are very similar both in their good and bad aspects, except that Rome is less dense and more spread out. While I won’t trade Rome for any other city in the world, I give Naples the edge over it because of metro, surrounding areas and the overall vibe and sheer passion of the city.

I might say that Italy the most beautiful country in Europe and the world, considering that I’ve traveled to at least ten different locations in Italy, and that you have managed to mention so many amazing places despite touching only a quarter of whole Italy. But as a Frenchman, some things in Italy are really frustrating. Relying on public transport is a real pain, especially if you want to travel to smaller towns. Even if it is available, trains are poorly maintained and always late. Many places are dirty and not taken care of. And it gets crazier as you go southwards with Sicily being the worst, despite still being stunning and soon I’ll be there again. My Neapolitan friend jokes “To drive on roads of Naples, you must have the special ability to pray for San Gennaro”. And he’s so right. Sometimes, it really feels like the vehicles are there to hit you and traffic rules are meek requests. I think this can be said of almost all Italian cities. I do love Italy but I don’t see why Italians don’t acknowledge the clear superiority of the French.

I’m Spaniard and I’m a big fan of Italy. In Spain, Italy is seen as a dream girlfriend that drives you crazy yet you can’t stop loving her. Personally, my favourite Italian regions are the Alps, Veneto, Tuscany and Campania – but the country is very beautiful almost everywhere and there is no city or region in Italy that isn’t worth visiting.

Thanks Lucas, it means a lot especially now. I hope people will start to visit Italy again very soon. Be well!

I wish the same for Spain too. Just like Italy, we choose to ignore the warnings and go on with the fests and parties, and now we are in an even worse situation. Us Mediterraneans are too similar I think.

Indeed we are… I have no idea when this nightmare will be over. I hope people won’t fear traveling to our beautiful countries when all this will be over.

Great post. However, I would like to add my two cents. First of all, I think Milan and Turin, while fantastic, are probably the least breathtaking cities in Italy. Southern Italy and the two islands certainly feel less developed, yet they have an older and more exotic vibe, with better beaches. Finally, I think that something like a planned Italian road trip doesn’t exist. In Italy, you are always close to a centuries old streets and buildings. gorgeous landscape or beach. Apart from some must visit cities that are well known, one can simply drive anywhere between Bolzano and Reggio Calabria and easily discover a lot of magnificent yet unspoiled places all around the country.

Hi Clelia Thank you for your excellent road trip guide . We are travelling from Rome to Lake Como . We have booked most of the hotels you have suggested . We are doing a slight detour. Only concern i have is driving from Rome airport to Hotel Monfy in Rome. I know from visiting Rome previously the roads can be extremely dangerous if you are not a local. Thank you for your help.

Hi Paul! Glad you found my guide useful… As someone who actually took her driving license in Rome, I can relate with your concerns 🙂 I’m not going to lie, driving in Rome is an adventure! Dangerous, I wouldn’t say that maybe you will have to be super careful and prepared before you drive. Meaning knowing exactly your route, but these days using google maps as a navigator will do the trick. You have to be careful with the scooters driving around you but other than that, if someone like me with no driving license could take it and drive safely for 3 years in Rome, I think you won’t have a problem (and I didn’t even have any google maps navigator, at the time!)

Let me know if you need some more help! Cheers Clelia

I love Italy. It is, in many ways, a unique country where you can always find something amazing nearby regardless of the region where you are. From my experience with Italians in UK and Italy, I must say that they are group of humble, outgoing and loving people who are masters of enjoying life. What I don’t like about them is that most of them don’t value rules, work ethic and public property. But my general perception about Italians is quite positive.

I love Italy. It is, in many ways, a unique country where you can always find something amazing nearby regards of the region where you are. From my experience with Italians in UK and Italy, I must say that they are group of humble, outgoing and loving people who are masters of enjoying life. What I don’t like about them is that most of them don’t value rules, work ethic and public property. But my general perception about them is quite positive.

Hey Andre, thanks for your comment and point of view about Italy and Italian people. Just one thing (being Italian I might understand the dynamics a bit) 🙂 Many people think our work ethic is not good but it’s actually not entirely true. Sure there are “lazy” people everywhere and in Italy, we might seem lazy but we are not. We have simply a different approach when it comes to this part of our life, and when we are working we give 110% most of the time. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to be masters of “enjoying life” as you mentioned! Regarding the rules, yes you are right we don’t like them especially when they are stupid but also when they are ok. We tend to disregard them more but not in bad faith, we just give the rules less importance I guess. Right, wrong? It really depends on the situation I think. I remember when I first arrived in London people wanted to kill me because I didn’t know I had to stay on the right side of the escalator, while in Italy we just stay wherever we want, and funny enough, after a few years living in the UK, once back in Italy I was like “why people don’t stay on the right!!” so we are just laid back for a few things I guess. I’m sure you’ll find my next article coming soon about Italian culture quite entertaining then.

One of my favourite itineraries and absolutely right about staying at least 3-4 days in each location. Drives me mad to see people racing from photo op to photo op without taking the time to at least get a flavour of the locale…

Exactly my philosophy Gary, I understand that people want to squeeze as much as possible from their Italian Itinerary but going slowly is much more rewarding…

Hi Clelia, My husband and I have just decided to take a trip to Italy in May this year. We were not sure how we were going to travel thru the country but I found your blog and am convinced a road trip is the answer. I have read thru the itinerary and only wanted to know if in addition to the sites you highlight, are there any places that have recently become a no miss which you have not mentioned. We are travelling for 15 days. Thanks

Hi Lori! I’m so glad to hear that you’re taking a road trip to Italy because you read my article! (it took me forever to put it together so at least I know it’s useful) 🙂 As for your question…

oh my! I left out so much from this itinerary already because of the limited time but recently I visited a place where I left a piece of my heart: The “Val D’Orcia” and in particular the village of Castiglione D’Orcia where I stayed in a lovely house in the center behind the small piazza for one week. It’s out of this world. Not only the village but also the surrounding areas.

There are so many of the typical “Casali” with the famous Tuscan landscape and trees, I even spotted the gates of the house where the movie “The Gladiator” was shot and saw one of the best sunsets of my life. I usually never do this, but to give you an idea you can check this picture I took and put on Instagram and this other one which has a truly lovely story behind it. I even made a few Instagram stories of that place. I think I’m going to add this to the itinerary because I’m obsessed 😀

So yes, please Go to Castiglione D’Orcia ! If you want some advice about the accommodation, the place I obviously recommend is where I stayed LA CANTINA DI PI , cheap and lovely, everything was at walking distance and you can park the car for free in the parking lot at 5 min walk.

I hope you can make it and if you have time also visit Montalcino and, nearby Castiglione, also go to the (completely free) Terme called “Bagni di San Filippo” at just 10 min by car and super easy to reach. You’ll love it! If you need more info about it, given that I still have to write an article about my stay, feel free to ask in here!

Cheers! Clelia

Hi Clelia – thank you for the excellent information! I’m returning to Italy in May with friends and family for a 10 year anniversary trip and was hoping you might be able to help me. We are renting cars in Rome FCO and will be driving directly to a villa near San Miniato in the late afternoon 5/6pm. What would you suggest is the easiest route to take? We will not be making many stops or are concerned about scenery at this point – mainly just about getting there quickly and easily. Any suggestions?

Hi Aimee, glad that you liked my Italian guide! And what a lovely choice going nearby San Miniato, you’ll going to love it! As for your question, the easiest route is without a doubt to go towards Viterbo (the signs pointing to the E35/a1 towards Florence). before finding that road you’ll need to get into the Grande Raccordo anulare first and find the right exit. But If you have even google maps, you can put your point of departure and destination and let it guide you. But if it gives you more than one choice, you go with the E35.

It might be a bit tricky on the Raccordo Anulare, there are so many lanes and exits but if you drive carefully and study the indications on Google maps, you should be fine. Once you’re on the E35 you will go straight for at least 1+ hour, then you’ll have to stay alert again for the right exit (which depends on where you are heading exactly). The total time spent to get to San Miniato city is about 2:30 min with no stops, I’d say 3 hours with one stop and counting the traffic in the Raccordo Anulare.

Recently I took that road to get to a village in Tuscany but from Civitavecchia ferries port and it was a very pleasant ride even if you’re not looking for particular scenery. You still will find it quite nice!

I hope it helps and if you never drove in the Raccordo anulare, be careful because there are some crazy drivers in there so go at your own pace and everything will be fine! (I lived in Rome for years so I know the raccordo and the nearby roads quite well)

Italy is a fantastic country – I don’t think any other country can offer so much variety (natural, historical and cultural) in such a small area. But I must say that my favorite area in Italy is the south. I personally think that it is the most beautiful part of Italy, and as of now it is quite undiscovered, unspoiled and authentic. I also love people of that region – who have a “I don’t really care” attitude for most aspects of life, and seem to enjoy their lives in their secret paradise without having any ambition for the future. Apart from having been to the mainstream cities (such as Florence and Venice), I’ve enjoyed road trips from Naples to Reggio Calabria and Salento and it was fantastic to travel across the hilly countryside, beaches and old, magnificent towns.

Hey Oliver thanks for stopping by and saying so many beautiful things about my country! I agree the south is more relaxed (but hey we have ambitions, we are just not obsessed by them) 😉 You’ve been to awesome paces but you’re missing one…. my fabulous island Sardinia! I know I know, it might seem biased but trust me, not only we are also Italians but our culture and beaches are incredible! Cheers from Paradise!

Apart from so many great things, it needs to be said that Italy can surely improve infrastructures, customer service and cleanliness of public places (it isn’t bad, but not “top notch”). That prevents many potential northern European visitors who prefer Spain and France instead. But despite its flaws, I love Italy. It isn’t a place with a giant hotel in front of beaches, gentrified or renovated historic centers, fake friendliness just to please the visitor. In other words, it seems like a place which hasn’t sold it’s soul just to become richer. I’ll consider Sardinia in near future, for sure.

Oh you’re totally right. We are not that great when it comes to Infrastructures in Italy, in a way it’s bad, I reckon, but you know what? If it’s just a bit messy sometimes it’s because we are simply … ITALIANS 😀 We are chaotic, messy, chill out and we should clean up a bit more yes! Italy doesn’t even need to sell its sowl, there are so many beautiful places that we don’t need to overdo it! And if you complain about infrastructures in Italy, wait till you come to Sardinia… being an Island we are a bit behind and the public transports also are less than ideal, but when you see the beauty you tend to forget everything about it!

I totally get your point. And I won’t say it is as bad as some people say (Italians complain all the time). The worst, however are the large cities (Rome and Naples). I remember my first experience in Rome and it was a shock for me coming from Geneva. I learnt a few lessons : expect at least half an hour delay of any mode of transport, you DON’T really need to buy a ticket for getting into a bus, the concept of personal space doesn’t exist, don’t expect vehicles to stop for crossing the road, no one will mind you if you throw trash on roadside and that you may take three hours to reach your destination (but you’ll still be there before your Italian friends). I do get that the culture of Italy is different and organisation isn’t something to expect there. And as far beauty is concerned, no one can deny it.

How couldn’t agree with you? We are like this, some places like you mentioned more than others are affected by this. And you forgot to mention that for us there are no rules in the escalators. I discovered that in Europe is different the very first day I moved to London, innocently stayed on my left only to be hit by the rage of the English people saying that I was an animal basically 😀 I was in shock and didn’t understand why they were so mad at me. Then I realized that it’s just in Italy that we stay wherever we want 😀 The beauty and the irony of it is that after 6 years living in the UK, when I went back to Italy and used an elevator I felt our behavior was outrageous ahahahah, I’ve been civilized I think 🙂 Thanks for all these inputs, I should write a post about it!

Many good reviews here, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Meeting up at the coach ‘station’ was a little disorganised but it worked and we had a great day out. Siena was beautiful, although we didnt read the small print – Cathedral guide not included. San Gimignano very pretty, the wine tasting was fun too, although with wine at 30 or 60 euros a bottle we didnt buy any. A good day out.

Glad that despite little not so perfect details, you had a good time in Italy! Cheers

Hi Clelia, your blog on road trip to Italy is just vividly marvelous. Further, I appreciate the pride you take in your country and I feel like visiting your fascinating nation very soon. Thanks a ton for your itinerary.

Thanks Albert! Indeed I am very proud of being Italian! Our country has so much beauty to be discovered, from north to South. A southern Italian Itinerary is coming soon (I couldn’t include that because of lack of time to visit everything of course). Italy is pretty big and even if people would love to have a taste of the north and the south on the same trip, if they use a car and don’t have at least one month or more, it is impossible.

Loved your blog, but what you have touched is barely the tip of an iceberg, and if Venice is added to the list, they are the places that are frequented the most by foreigners. Italy is SO MUCH more. Must visit places in the north include Alto Adige, Valle d’aosta and Trieste, all of which have a unique culture, even for a country as diverse as Italy. As you have not covered any part of Southern Italy (which, by any means, is NOT a region that can be left out), I must add that it is a region that is as worthy of visiting as the the places mentioned in this blog. As a Calabrese, I’ll say that it is arguably more beautiful, because the weather is better, cuisine is better and more diversified, beaches are much better than the north, the number of historical sites is higher (because of rich historical background) and people in general are very hospitable. Must visit places in South include Naples (a city that has probably no equivalent in Europe or World) and its surroundings (Sorrento, Costiera Amalfitana, Pompei, Caserta), Palermo, Catania, Siracusa, Reggio Calabria, Tropea, Pizzo Calabro, Matera, Ostuni, Alberobello, Brindisi and Lecce.

Hey Antonio, Thanks for your comment and of course I only touched the tip of the Iceberg! This was a specific Itinerary (and even a very crammed one to be honest) to include most of the popular sights, but I have another post or two coming for the rest of Italy, including the south (with all the places you have mentioned) and also another one for the mountain lovers. There is so much to see and do in Italy! By the way, I’m Sardinian and I visited Calabria more than once and loved it! We are very lucky indeed 🙂

Hi. I found your Blog by chance cause I’m searching for help with a road trip I’m taking with my husband and 10year old twins from Calabria to Puglia (excluding the heel) up to the whole east coast of Italy. Then cross quickly to Genoa to get the ferry down back to sicily. We have in total 28 days to discover and enjoy the East Coast. Whenever I search for tips, this area of Italy is hardly ever mentioned by travellers. Our trip starts soon, on the 1st August 2019, this is a short notice, but such an opportunity came up and we’re grabbing it. Do you have some recommendations of the NOT To MISS places and fun activities with kids?

THANK YOU Lorraine

Hi Lorraine, Thanks for stopping by! There are not much info about the east coast because the sea is not exactly nice for our Italian standards. I personally prefer the west coast with the exception of some places in Calabria and Puglia (not sure what u mean by not covering the hill as Puglia is definitely on it ). If you can, don’t miss Rossano Calabro, and in Puglia, the Gargano (and the national park of course), the “Trulli” and I also suggest to also take a day or two were you don’t plan and take the car exploring the little coastal villages along the way. I remember in Rossano Calabro there is a massive aqua park your kid would love, it’s called Odissea 2000, that could be a great place for you to relax and the kids have some fun! Unfortunately, it’s been a while since I last visited Calabria and if it weren’t last minute, most of my friends are from Calabria and Puglia so they could give you the real local insights, if you reply to this, tell me so I might try to contact them and ask for more precise info! Cheers Clelia

Your article was really helpful, 16 Day Itinerary Italy looks different and so amazing in this article. It was such a good read. Thank you.

Very nice, thanks for sharing! A very good overview of how to explore the north/northwestern part of Italy!

Thanks David!

HOW COME U DINT TOUCH UP ON VENICE?? AND AMALFI COAST

Good question! Italy has so much to offer that if I had made an Itinerary covering from north to south I would have needed to write a book 🙂 A second article with an Itinerary from Rome to Campania Puglia and Basilicata (including the Amalfi coast) is coming up soon! As for Venice, believe it or not, I’ve never been there and I am not planning on going because I see it as a trap for tourists. My friends who used to live close to the city can confirm that. Venice is like Disneyland to me, nothing truly authentic has remained. It’s certainly beautiful judging from the pictures but as an Italian giving advice to tourists, first I wouldn’t recommend a place I’ve never visited myself in Italy and second, I’d rather say what I think and then leave the last decision to you guys! Which means that if you don’t mind Venice being not the real Italy, by any means, go on and visit it! 🙂

Great info, Clelia, Gracie! Your country is my favourite country in the World (and I have been to a lot of places).. I am of Indian origin but have lived in the UK for 25 years. I agree. I have been to most places in Italy including Sardinia and Sicily. My favourite so far is Puglia- we cycled for 8 days around Puglia last year, ! Sardinia (again cycling !) is my next favourite!. We are planning to drive to Tuscany in our new camper van from the UK (with our bikes), in August 2019. This information will really help us.

We don’t want to rush it.. We want to spend two weeks in the region covering Florence, Pisa, Siena, Cinque Terre and maybe Genoa or Turin on the way in or back from the UK..

The villages of Italy,the country side, the food, the beaches would take up most of our time. We’ll spend hardly any time in tourist traps – though there are unfortunately must -do’s on most itineraries – Pisa, Siena, Florence ! Most Italian cities like Venice are now groaning under the pressure of mass-tourism.which is sad. Head away from the crowds, experience the lovely people of Italy and cover once region at a time -come back often, . – for a life time… that’s our plan !

Hello Clelia, these itineraries are just amazing for a traveler. Is it budget friendly for a solo traveler or its better to be with a group tour?

Hi Lydia, Thanks for your comment! To be honest with you, it really depends! As a general rule (and solo traveler myself) it is always slightly convenient to travel with friends or as a couple, if only just to share the hotel room bill, car rental etc. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t go on the cheap by yourself. I have done both and the freedom of just deciding where and when to go is so amazing!

Italy can be super expensive but also very cheap, you just need to research a bit beforehand for the best hotels or hostels if you are flexible, train or buses instead of cars and you are in business! I was able to have a great holiday in Sardinia (which is well known for being quite expensive) when I was a penniless student!

As for the tours, I recently came back from an amazing trip to Australia and generally I prefer to go by myself because I like the freedom of decision but due to Australia being soooo expensive and other practical reasons, in the end, I decided to go by tour for a few things I wanted to see and it was AMAZING. If you travel solo you also have the opportunity to meet new fun friends and exchange life experiences along the way. So if you think a tour around Italy is better for you, by all means, book that if it’s your cheapest option!

If you need some advice about tours, let me know! Being Italian I can guide you to the ones I think are the best value for money! Cheers Clelia

Lovely Post. Italy such a wonderful place to visit. All the photos are very good. This is an informative post. Thank you so much for sharing the list. I would like to share with my friends.

Thanks Gary, feel free to share the beauty of Italy and try it for yourself of course! 🙂

I have been reading your posts regularly.I need to say that you are doing a fantastic job by posting information regarding Italian beautiful and tour places.I will bookmark your site Please keep up the great work.

Please note that as per my comments guidelines I had to remove the name of your business and the link. Thanks for your understanding. Kind Regards Clelia

Amazing photos and information. thanks for sharing this! Love Italy!

Thanks Gabbar!

Oh man what a post! Lake Como, the italian tastes, the eye-candy accommodation… Have mercy!

Ahahaha I know, right! I was drooling over MY OWN COUNTRY while writing this post! Italy is just so beautiful 🙂

Never thought about a road trip round Europe but this looks amazing. I would want to take in San Marino for sure.

Hey Craig! Thanks for stopping by! Just for the records… San Marino is truly beautiful and it’s not on this list just because even being in Italian territory it is a state of his own, not politically part of Italy, just like the Vatican is. I mentioned the Vatican just because it’s basically inglobated in the city of Rome, but I should point out that it’s also a state of its own 🙂

Great list of things to do, really loved Florence and can’t wait to get to Venice

I also loved Florence, a marvelous city full of art!

Went to Italy in 2016, was one of our favorite countries to visit, need to get back ASAP!

Sounds a great way of giving a treat to myself and my wife for our anniversary! thanks for sharing this post, Italy is really very amazing and awesome, I can’t wait to visit one day!!

Italy is always a treat for every occasion I guess 🙂

Love this article! Going to Europe for a 2 month road trip this summer. This Italy road trip will fit in perfectly with my plan. Thank you!

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it and I hope you’ll have a fantastic trip to Italy! 😉

Thank you for the article. We are going to visit this country with my wife. Hotels and cars have already booked. It remains only to have a good time

Hey Dylan, if you have everything sorted out, I’m pretty sure you’ll have a wonderful time! I have a friend now on a trip to Italy and he is having the time of his life apparently 🙂

I’ve mostly been a UK and France traveler, but the more I see and read about Italy, especially the ancient cities … ! Thanks for a great post. Your photos are amazing! I’m off to see what airfare looks like for next season!

Hey Phill, being Italian myself I might be biased but a friend of mine is currently traveling around Italy and he is sending me pictures of everything he sees in absolute wonder, you have to put it on your bucket list!! 🙂

Thanks for an informative post, Clelia! It is very well-written, as well. I love how you included a video to teach your readers on how they can make use of Pruvo. Italy has always been a place to visit and explore for me but have not gotten the chance to fulfill at this time. It’s also nice that lots of airlines these days are getting better with air travel services and amenities. Kudos!

Thanks Elizabeth! I hope you will be able to take an epic road trip to italy very soon, you will not be disappointed! 🙂

This was a really interesting post, thanks for sharing your travel experience.

Italy is the perfect place to visit and I would love to explore it more. You captured awesome pictures on your travel trip. Thank you so much for sharing this post.. Loved this!!

Thanks Samy! Italy is indeed a beautiful country and I’m a very lucky girl!

Wow! This post sounds amazing.. Italy looks awesome to explore. There are so many things to do. Love your post. I will be definitely adding to my bucket list. Keep posting!

Thanks Sammy! Italy should be in everyone’s bucket list and a road trip to Italy even more! 🙂

I think everyone would like Venice in Italy. Venice was my favorite place where I would like to hang out with friends.

I can’t talk about Venice as it is one of the few places in Italy I haven’t visited. Mostly on purpose as I see it as a place that has no real locals but just tourists. The pictures are surely nice and the atmosphere and views too, but somehow it never was on top of my list of places to see in Italy! Maybe one day I will. Just to see if I was right or wrong about my feelings towards Venice.

Extremely informative and well written. 🙂

Thanks! A lot of work went into it! Now on with the second part… the beautiful southern Italy, soon to be published (soon can mean 1 week to a month!) lol

It’s obvious by the quality that much effort was exerted to produce the article. I look forward to what part two offers..

The second part will also be a hell of a job but so worth it as it will cover some of the best parts of southern Italy like the Amalfi coast, Puglia, and other lovely places!

Italy sounds different and so appealing in this post. Loved the detailing! It was such a good read. Thank you.

Thanks Reshmaty!

I appreciate your blog post, Thanks for sharing. Air travel gets easier with airline sophistication. Its invention has revolutionized the entire travel arena.

Not sure how talking about airlines is relevant on a road trip article… but thanks for stopping by anyway!

Italy is a perfect place to travel as every city is to beatiful and historical. My favorite was Florence from the very well known ones but as I prefer less touristic destinations I enjoyed Bologna too for the students vibe.

Yes, Italy is beautiful no matter where you go you will always find something special! I also loved Florence and Bologna, they are less overwhelming than Rome and Milan for sure (even if my heart will forever stay with the eternal city!). Not sure if you have visited San Gimignano and Lake Como but they are seriously jaw-dropping locations! Now I’m preparing the southern road trip from Rome to the Amalfi coast, super excited as I love that part too 🙂

You did a lot of work to make this post. Italy is very beautiful, especially if you travell alone, without any excursion groups.

Thanks Jenny, Italy is beautiful no matter how you decide to visit it. Some people like you love to discover it without any guide but in certain circumstances, I recommend the tours (or at least using the services to skip the lines) as if you don’t have much time they can truly save a lot of time and some guided tours are also worth it because being the guide Italian you will have a fun experience and you will not miss the best parts or waste time to find them 🙂 to each its own! The most important thing is to just pack up and come to Italy no matter how you decide to discover it, it’s just too beautiful 🙂

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2 Weeks in Italy: The Perfect Guide From Napoli to Sicily

Please note that some of the links may be affiliate links , and at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products & companies I love and use, and the income goes back into making this little blog successful!

I have spent many months in Italy over the past 2 years , and I have the cutest little road trip guide for you – perfect for two weeks in Italy – especially southern Italy from Napoli all the way down to Sicily.

Between the Sicilian pasta, Neapolitan pizza, gelato, and good old Italian wine, I gained about 5 pounds – and regret absolutely nothing!

Now to the itinerary, complete with hidden gems and the best places to eat, what to do, and where to stay for an adventure that can only be described as La Dolce Vita.

Table of Contents

2 Weeks in Italy “At-A-Glance”

Here is the whole trip at a high level, including where I recommend you lodge for a few nights and the logistics of public transportation if you choose not to rent a car for any part of the trip.

A few notes about logistics:

• Uber is not something you can count on in Italy .
• I’ve linked where to get your ferry tickets in the detailed itinerary below, but no travel day took more than 2-3 hours.
• Having a car will make it easier, especially for the second half of the trip when you have to get to Maratea and Sicily. In fact, there are a few Hidden Gem Italian Towns in South Italy that are worth exploring if you end up renting a car.

Here’s what I use to check car rental options and prices:

▶️ DISCOVER CARS: Check Prices for Italy! ◀️

Before you hit the road, make sure you review  Renting a Car in Italy: Common Mistakes & Tips , where I go into a few unique road rules, documentation requirements, and experience driving through the land of La Dolce Vita.

2 Weeks in Italy Itinerary

Let’s dive into the 2 week itinerary for Italy, including tips on where to stay and how to spend your time.

Day 1: Arrive in Napoli

Welcome to Napoli! When I first set out on this 14-day trip in Italy, I almost skipped Naples because of how many people warned me about the dangers – “hide everything”, “gangs of gypsy thieves!”. This is a bunch of bullsh*t.

You should absolutely practice caution any time you travel , but I found the city to be bustling, alive, friendly, chaotic, and all the good things I imagined a slice of local Italian life to be.

Where to Stay

📍 Le Sciantose Relais (Spanish Quarter)

You’ll be making Naples home base for three nights. I booked myself a lovely spot in the Spanish Quarter (Quartiero Spagnolo), which is within walking distance of the main attractions and the historic center.

What to Eat

Do not leave the city without eating a Neapolitan Pizza or the Traditional Ragu. Neapolitan cuisine, in general, is renowned for its use of fresh ingredients and simple yet flavorful recipes. Here are my top recommendations for each!

• L’Antica Pizzerie da Michele – Neapolitan pizza, great any time of the day and wonderful jetlag recovery food.
• Tandem Ragu – Traditional ragu over handmade pasta in a low-key nook of town. Make sure to get a reservation for dinner.

Day 2: Explore Napoli

The city of Naples is often overlooked by travelers to Italy, who go for better-known destinations like Rome and Florence.

But those who take the time to explore Napoli for at least a full day will be rewarded with a wealth of history, culture, well-renowned museums, art galleries, churches, parks, and overall natural beauty. That said, the city is huge, busy, and you’ll want a guide .

➡️ For a historical guided tour that makes Napoli come alive, book Naples Private Walking & Food Tour .

My Favorite Spot on the Tour: Museo Cappella Sansevero , a chapel that is adorned with a number of intricate sculptures, including two life-size figures of chained sinners. The most impressive sculpture is “The Veiled Christ,” a marble statue of Christ shrouded in a thin layer of transparent marble, which is in one word “heavenly”.

Day 3: A Trip to Pompeii

So don’t repeat my mistake and go to Pompeii without a guided tour , paying only for the entrance ticket and boring audio guide; you’ll end up tuning out anyway. It will be like walking through history blind – beautiful and intriguing, but you’ll be lacking the depth, story, and impact.

👉 If I was to do this day again , this is how I would think about it: Rome to Pompeii Day Trip: The Smart Way vs. The Hard Way .

Day 4: Arrive on the Amalfi Coast

Grab the ferry from Napoli to Amalfi ( 2 hours for about $30 ) and head out in the morning. The town of Amalfi is absolutely picturesque and small, easy to explore in one day.

A little secret from locals and travelers alike is that the best way to see the Amalfi Coast is from the sea. So once you arrive and settle in, grab some lunch, head to the harbor again, and get a boat for the afternoon.

➡️ This is the Amalfi Coast Boat Rental I got so I didn’t have to spend extra money on a skipper – zero regrets!

📍 Albergo L’Antico in the Town of Amalfi

This will be your home base for the next four days. I got a little room close to the main square and Cathedral, more expensive than Naples but within walking distance of everything. Because the AirBnBs are expensive and a little run down in the town of Amalfi, my favorite part about this hotel is that it was central, and felt super Italian in its decor.

Day 5: Explore Ravello

Ravello is a town in Italy that sits high above the Amalfi Coast. Though it’s small, there’s plenty to see and do – the main attraction being Villa Rufolo . It sits atop a cliff with incredible views of the coastline and has a beautiful garden. And some nights, live shows!

Day 6: Explore Positano

Positano is one of the most beautiful places in Italy, and it’s easy to see why. The colors are absolutely breathtaking, and the views are simply WOW!

Although it is a popular tourist destination, there are still plenty of hidden gems to be found.

➡️ This was one of my favorite days on the trip because I took the road less traveled and hiked from Amalfi to Nocelle in Positano via the Path of the Gods Hike .

Day 7: A Day on the Island of Capri

A day trip to the island of Capri is a must for this itinerary. The island is known for celebrity vacations, crystal-clear water, and picturesque towns.

You can take a boat around Capri from Amalfi, and then spend the rest of the day on the island soaking in the Mediterranean vibe.

➡️ This is the Private Boat Tour of Capri I took to capture the picture below – I liked it so much that I actually did it again on a separate trip back to the little island!

Here are a few highlights you can’t miss:

• Giardini di Augusto – Get ready for the most stunning views of the sea and Via Krupp.
• Arco Naturale – My favorite lookout point, an easy walk/hike from Giardini di Augusto.
• Marina Piccola – Swim in the azure waters of Marina Piccola, overlooking the famous Faraglioni rocks.
• Explore the many quaint shops and restaurants in the town of Capri.

❌ Do NOT take the fancy-looking taxis on Capri , as they are expensive.

The best way to get around Capri is the little funicular from Marina Grande to the town of Capri, from which you can walk to all of the recommendations I outlined above.

There is also a bus if time allows you to go further to Marina Piccola or Anacapri.

Day 8: Relax in Maratea

After all the boogie-ness of the Amalfi coast, I headed south by train to Maratea in the region of Basilicata. This is a sleepy little town along the coast of Italy (in the Basilicata region) known for its dramatic coastline.

The Church of San Biagio is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture, and the views from the bell tower are not to be missed.

Not only that, there are a number of excellent restaurants serving fresh seafood, and the town is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. Go for dinner at HOST di Viceconte Antonio and try the ravioli!

📍 Villa Venezuela (1 night)

A night of relaxation and a stunning sunset in Villa Venezuela . Book ahead of time! As a peek, this is the view from the room!

Day 9: Onward to Sicily

From Maratea to Taormina, today is a travel day, by train to ferry to train again. This was enough to have me questioning my itinerary – the silver lining was the beautiful views the train gives as it makes its way down the beautiful coastline.

I did have this thought …. should I just go back up the coast or keep going south – Which is Better: The Amalfi Coast or Sicily? Bottom line, Sicily is the place to be if you’re looking for an authentic south Italian experience .

📍 Terra Rosa Residences near Isola Bella

I stayed a little outside of Taormina near the beach of Isola Bella for 2 days at the most beautiful residence: Terra Rosa . The town was a lovely 15-minute walk up the stairs. The sunrises, sunsets, and views of Isola Bella along the path took my breath away.

Day 10: Explore Taormina

This picturesque town is located on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. From here, you can enjoy stunning views of Isola Bella, explore the ancient Greek theatre, and sample some of Sicily’s best gelato and cannoli.

It is worth mentioning that I quite seriously ate my way through Taormina. That being said, here are some quick hitters for a self-guided walking tour:

• Teatro Antico di Taormina – Great for sunset with views of Mt. Etna.
• Villa Comunale di Taormina – For quiet walks and naps in the park.
• Piazza IX Aprile – cafe central!

Day 11: A Beach Day on Isola Bella

From my little residence at Terra Rosa , I walked down the stairs to Isola Bella and spent the day relaxing on the beach, drinking granitas , and snacking on fruit.

I met fellow travelers in the sun, and we ended up chatting and going out in Taormina the whole night. I went to bed at sunrise – perfection!

Day 12: Explore Isola Ortigia

Grab the train further south to Ortigia ( thankfully, trains are a great place to nap ). This little island is located in the city of Syracuse on the southeastern coast of Sicily. Although it is only about a kilometer in size, Ortigia is packed with history and culture.

Once the center of Greek civilization, its ancient ruins are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the island’s streets are lined with shops and cafes, making it the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring.

Day 13: A Day in Noto

A quick train ride from Ortigia, Noto is the best place to spend a day in Sicily. The entire town is a UNESCO world heritage site , and it’s easy to see why.

The town was rebuilt in the 18th century after a devastating earthquake, and the resulting baroque architecture is simply stunning.

Start your morning with a stroll down Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main drag, which is lined with cafes and shops. Then visit the Noto Cathedral , followed by all the other churches and palaces that line the streets, each more beautiful than the last.

Finish up with a stroll through the picturesque gardens of Villa Comunale , and head home to Ortigia for dinner!

Day 14: Time to Fly Home!

And that wraps up what I hope will be many more itineraries to explore La Dolce Vita of the Italian coast. Take the train to Catania Airport, and connect to wherever you call home. Don’t forget to send postcards before you go!

2 Weeks in Italy Map

This is the route I took for the trip. I flew into Naples and flew home from Catania, Sicily.

If you have MORE than 2 Weeks in Italy

If you have a couple more days, here are a few more spots and adjustments to the itinerary I would make:

✅ Spend a few more days in Capri .

On another trip, I ended up spending a long weekend on the island of Capri itself (lodging in Anacapri) and treated myself to a solo relaxation holiday!

✅ Spend more time in Sicily .

On yet another Italy trip, I spent a whole two weeks exploring Sicily. Here are the best of the best recs:

• Palermo – The capital of Sicily, this is a full-on immersion into Sicilian everything – from the churches to the food, to the impossibly winding tiny streets of the old town. Just amazing!
• Isola di Favignana – Take the ferry from Trapani and rent a bike to wander this beautiful little island for a day or two!
• Erice – A gorgeous historic town on top of a mountain, this is a great day trip from Palermo on the way to Scopello!
• Scopello – Find your way to this little retreat beach – Cala Mazzo di Sciacca .
• Cefalu – Also found on many postcards from Sicily, this little town rounds up some of my favorite northern spots in Sicily!

If you have LESS time in Italy

If you have less than 14 days in Italy, try not to be sad. Just promise you’ll be back! Jokes aside, here are a few adjustments you can make to this itinerary:

✅ Skip Maratea and focus on the Amalfi Coast & Sicily. I would start the trip with a roundtrip flight from Naples to Sicily (flying into Catania Airport near Taormina). And of course, there is the ferry from Naples to the Amalfi for the second portion of your trip.

✅ Spend only two days on the Amalfi Coast , prioritizing a day trip to Capri and seeing Positano from the sea ( check out the recommendations I made in the itinerary to save money on boat rentals ).

However you customize your trip, something about Italy just makes you feel alive. The food, the wine, the history, and the culture all come together to create a magical place that I couldn’t help but fall in love with.

Travel Tips Before You “Andiamo!”

There are a few frequently asked questions I’d like to get out of the way.

Can I tour Italy in 2 weeks?

While 14 days in Italy may seem short for some ( or their entire vacation time for Americans ), it’s actually the perfect amount of time to explore the major cities and 1 to 2 regions without feeling rushed.

As an aside, I loosely split Italy into three regions:

• The North – Think mountains, skiing, Lake Como, Milan, Venice.
• The South – Naples on down to Sicily, including Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast
• The Chunky Middle – The capital of Rome, the Vatican, the rolling hills of Tuscany

Hiking in the Italian Dolomites & Swiss Alps

If the mountains are more your calling, consider heading to North Italy for some of the most epic hiking of your life. This is my favorite region of Italy, and I say this very seriously because I know how pretty the Amalfi Coast and Sicily are!

How long do I need on the Amalfi Coast?

The Amalfi coastline is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, because, yes, it really does look like the pictures – dramatic cliffs and turquoise waters galore.

I think a long weekend will give you plenty of time to relax on the beach, take day trips to nearby islands, and explore the charming villages, like Positano and Ravello, that dot the coast.

Do I need travel insurance for this trip?

Yes, if you’re planning to stay in Italy for an extended time OR you’re going to be hiking and driving long distances, you should consider reviewing the 5 Best Medical Insurance Policies for traveling in Europe , because shit happens.

This is what I use ▶️ Check Prices for SAFETYWING Insurance ! ◀️

The idea is that if something does go wrong, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re covered.

How much does it cost to stay in Italy for 2 weeks?

I was worried 14 days in Italy would break the bank – especially with the Amalfi Coast and Taormina on my itinerary – but it didn’t!

There are a number of ways to save money while traveling , such as staying in hostels or AirBnB rather than hotels, eating at local restaurants rather than tourist traps, and taking advantage of free activities such as walking tours – all of which I did.

Here is the price breakdown for my 14-day stay in Italy, which totaled around $1,500 ( sans flights because I use credit card points for this ).

• Transportation : $100/week ( ferries, trains, Uber – still cheaper than renting a car )
• Housing : $40-100/night ( places like Maratea will be less expensive, Amalfi on the more expensive end )
• Meals : $15-30 for some of the best pasta, seafood, and desserts of your life
• Wine : $3 a glass for amazing Italian wines ( and the Italians always pour a little extra every time . .. bless them! )

When should I visit Italy?

While that depends on what you want to see and do, I went on this trip in June!

That said, spring or fall is ideal if you’re interested in exploring the country’s major cities . The weather is pleasant, and there are fewer crowds compared to the summer months.

If you’re more interested in spending time outdoors , then summer is the best time to visit . Italy is also a great destination for winter sports, as the Dolomites offer some of the best skiing in Europe.

What should I pack?

First and foremost, the Italian sun can be incredibly strong, especially during summer.

You’ll want to pack light, comfortable clothing that can be easily layered – firstly because the temperatures can vary widely, and secondly because you’re traveling by public transport most of the time. Minimalism is key !

I’ve put together a quick checklist of Comfy Road Trip Outfits for this itinerary- pay special attention to the summer capsule wardrobe for Italy.

Conclusion: 2 Weeks in Italy from Napoli to Sicily

Planning a trip to Italy can be a big task, as this country has so much to see and do.

I went for a whole month, journeying from Rome all the way down to Bari and Sicily, one gelato cup at a time, living the “dolce far niete “, meaning “the sweetness of doing nothing” before writing this little guide.

To be fair, I think even if I went a thousand times, there is still more to see. All that said, with a little careful planning, it is possible to get a good sampling of Italy in just 14 days.

Mariana Barbuceanu is the owner and author of the Road Trip EuroGuide, a blog that inspires fellow travelers to explore Europe more authentically through slower travel and digging deeper into the culture of a place. When she isn't writing about her adventures, she is planning trips for her community and coaching people on how to take that next step towards a much-needed sabbatical.

The World As I See It

One Ontario lady with a passion for travel and inspiring others to get outdoors and explore more

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2 Weeks in Northern Italy: A Dreamy Italy Itinerary

by Stephanie · Published January 14, 2019 · Updated December 18, 2023

Italy is one the top dream destinations for traveler across the globe. It’s home to a wealth of history, mouth-watering cuisine, and enchanting cities. However, you can easily spend months traveling from one end of the boot to the other, and from coast to coast, and never see it all. So, I’ve done part of the planning for you with this outstanding 2 weeks in Northern Italy itinerary.

You’ll find all the best travel tips for an epic Northern Italy vacation in this guide! Discover the top places to add to your road trip itinerary, what to do in each location, where to stay, and more! If ever there was a great time to travel to Italy, it’s now!

This post contains affiliate links. By booking through these links I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Getting in & Around Northern Italy

An essential part of travel is knowing how to get around the places you’re travelling in. It is quite easy tor get around Northern Italy, whether you’re travelling by train, plane, or planning to road trip by car. Below you’ll find information about airports, train trail, and tours in Italy.

There are 17 airports across Northern Italy. The largest airport is Milan Malpensa. In turn, the Milan airport has the most international flights flying into it. If you are flying from within Europe your options are wider. Depending on where you are beginning your two weeks in Northern Italy you can fly into Venice or Genoa. However, if you’re flying from North America you’ll probably find more flight options into Milan.

Try CheapOAir for great flight deals!

Train travel in Europe is convenient, fast, and a beautiful way to get around. If you are not flying into Italy there are numerous train routes you could take from neighbouring countries. Train travel in Italy is the perfect way to get between all of the locations in this Northern Italy travel itinerary. All of the stops are 2 to 3 hours apart by train.

You do not need a Eurail pass for your 2 weeks in Northern Italy. It will be cheaper to buy the tickets as you go. The ticket machines are in English and easy to navigate. However, if you’re visiting more than Italy, consider purchasing a Eurail pass . There are a variety of options available.

There are endless tour operators you can chose from if you’re looking to take a guided tour of Italy. Some range from a day to weeks. Here are a few great tours of Italy!

If you’re looking for a great tour company then check out Walks of Italy . They offer an assortment of tours across Italy. And if you’re short on time Walks of Italy has tours that will help you skip the line.

Places to Visit in Northern Italy

I have Italy in my blood in more ways then just my Italian heritage! It’s one of the places I also highly recommend and return to again and again! So, if you’re looking to plan the ultimate Northern Italy trip itinerary, I have everything you’ll need!

In this Northern Italy travel guide you’ll find all the best places to visit from the Alps to Venice and the Ligurian coast ! You’ll discover the best things to do in each location, day trips, tours, and hotels! So, get ready to start planning an epic tour of Italy filled with history, amazing food, and so much more!

So many forget about adding Genoa to their Italian bucket list. Located on the northeast coast, Genoa is the capital of Italy’s Liguria region, and has so much to offer, from history to crave-worthy food. Plus, it makes the perfect starting out point for your 2 weeks in Northern Italy itinerary. If you’re coming in from France, Genoa is only a few hours train ride.

You can easily spend a couple of days exploring Genoa. It is a city of stark contrasts, from gritty neighbourhoods to polished palaces. Genoa’s hidden gems will surprise you. One gem I found was a beautiful waterfall in a magical park in the middle of the city.

There are so many things to do in Genoa! Wander through its narrow streets and you’ll find Italy’s best pesto dishes. Visit the spectacular palaces along Via Garibaldi. A few other notable attractions in Genoa include the Aquarium, Castelletto, and the harbour.

If you’re looking for a day trip from Genoa then consider visiting Santa Margherita. This charming and colourful harbour town is located 35 kilometres southeast of Genoa on the Italian Riviera.

Tours in Genoa

Do Eat Better Experience Food Tour – Foodies will want to try this walking tour of some tasty cafes and restaurants in Genoa.

Where to Stay in Genoa

Hotel Nologo – The budget hotel has a music theme and is a 15 minute walk from Palazzo Ducale and Genoa Aquarium. I stayed here and enjoyed the area and felt safe as a solo female traveller.

Hotel Britannia – This mid-range hotel is in the historic center of Genoa. It’s close to the train station and has a terrace with hammock, a bar, and even a telescope!

Hotel Bristol Palace – For a lovely stay in a historic building, this four star hotel is located centrally and close to the Piazza De Ferrari. It has stylish rooms as well as a restaurant and coffee shop.

Start planning your Italy vacation by booking your stay in Genoa now

Cinque Terre

To me, Cinque Terre is the gem of the Mediterranean. This stretch of coastline is home to five picturesque fishing villages that rise up from the sea, vibrant buildings hanging precariously on cliffs, and a winding historic trail that connects it all. The five villages of Cinque Terre, Italian meaning five lands, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Europe.

The five villages of Cinque Terre are Monterosso Al Mare, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglua, and Riomaggiore . They all lie within the Cinque Terre National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many spend the day hopping from village to village, as it’s only a five minute train ride between each. But I encourage you to at least spend two days in Cinque Terre.

There is so much to do, from wandering around old castles, exploring the charming alleyways in search of stunning views as well as indulging in refreshing gelato. Each village has its own incredible things to do and see.

And of course, hiking the famous Sentiero Azzurro is a must for any hiker! The Sentiero Azzurro, also known as the Blue Trail, links each of the villages and offers outstanding views of the region including the vineyards and sea.

Tours in Cinque Terre

Sunset Boat Tour Experience – Enjoy a wonderful boat tour from Monterosso. You can sip Aperitifs and prosecco, jump in the water to snorkel, or just sit back and take in the views.

Walking Tour with Local Wine Tasting – This guided tour takes you around Manarola. Wander the vineyards and learn about their history and techniques, then end of with a tasting.

Where to Stay in Cinque Terre

Hotel 5 Terre – Located near the beach in Monterosso al Mare, this mid-range relaxed hotel has a restaurant as well as free breakfast and parking.

Arbasia De Ma – In the village of Corniglia, this charming guesthouse offers rooms with sea views and is a three minute walk to the beach.

Affittacamere Le Giare – This mid-range guesthouse is steps away from the train station in Riomaggiore. Some rooms even have balconies that are perfect for sunsets!

Milan is northern Italy’s magnanimous metropolis. The city is home to legendary artwork, like Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper fresco, the impressive Duomo, and everything else from castles to canals.

Milan is Italy’s second most populous city after Rome. And even though there is a wealth of things to do, you can easily see the best of Milan in one day .

I highly recommend spending a few days in Milan! That way you can indulge in its great cafes, wander its historic neighbourhoods, spend an afternoon in Park Sempione, stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, and check out a bunch of museums.

If you are looking for one of Milan’s hidden gems don’t forget to visit the canals of Milan. The Navigli neighbourhood of Milan is home to canals that will transport you a world away from the bustling city.

Day Trips from Milan

For those choosing to use Milan as a base during part of your 2 weeks in Northern Italy then you’ll find plenty of places nearby to visit on day trips.

Lake Como – The train takes less than an hour to get from Milan to Lake Como. It’s easy to visit as a day trip and you can take the ferry to get to the main towns.

Lake Maggiore – Home to gardens and stunning scenery, this lake on the border of Italy and Switzerland is only 1.5 hours by train from Milan. Alternatively, you can visit on this half day trip tour that includes transportation and a guide.

Bergamo – Surrounded by Venetian walls, filled with cobblestone streets, and home to delicious risottos, a day trip to Bergamo is a must! It’s only an hour northeast of Milan by train.

Tours in Milan

Walking Tour with Skip-the-Line to Duomo & Last Supper – This walking tour takes you to all the top attractions, including the Milan Cathedral, plus gives you skip the line access to the Last Supper!

Where to Stay in Milan

Ostello Bello – In the city center and close to the Cathedral, this accommodation offers budget-friendly dorm rooms as well as privates. It has terraces with hammocks and will greet you with a free drink!

B&B Hotel Milano Sant’Ambrogio – This charming mid-range bed & breakfast is close to the Sforzesco Castle, offers bike rentals, and is pet-friendly!

Grand Hotel et de Milan – Located steps from La Scala opera house and the metro, this luxury hotel has everything you need including two restaurants, a bar, fitness center, and is set within a historic building.

Book your stay in Milan today!

A trip to Northern Italy is not complete without a visit to Venice. It’s the perfect place to end your 2 weeks in Northern Italy. There are countless things that make Venice special.

The magic of Venice is different for all! For some, it’s in getting lost in its endless alleyways. For others, it’s sipping a coffee in San Marco Square and watching the birds take flight when the church bells ring. And one of the big magic moments is watching the sunset over the Grand Canal.

While it is doable to simply spend the day in Venice. I feel like it doesn’t do it justice. There is more to Venice than can be seen in a day. If you spend a couple days in Venice you can do a day trip to colourful islands Burano and Murano.

Other things to add to your Northern Italy trip itinerary include visiting St. Mark’s Campanile. Located in San Marco Square, this bell tower is best visited early. Head to the top and take in one of the best views of Venice.

Seek out Libreria Acqua Alta, one of the most enchanting book stores in the World. Plus, discover what lies on the other side of each and every bridge.

One thing that I highly recommend is to take a gondola ride to a ride along the canals! It will not disappoint!

Tours in Venice

Walking Tour and Gondola Ride – I LOVED this walking tour with a local guide! Learn about the top attractions as well as hidden gems, plus a gondola ride is included and tours start at only $63 CAD!

Murano & Burano Islands Tour by Private Boat – Take advantage of the fully guided tour of islands that starts at $54 CAD. Learn about the islands, watch glassblowers, and more!

Where to Stay in Venice

Hotel San Salvador – I LOVED this charming hotel in the heart of Venice, close to St. Mark’s! It’s a budget-friendly option with a great location and even has Murano glass throughout!

Hotel Carlton on The Grand Canal – This mid-range hotel overlooks the Grand Canal, has a rooftop bar as well as special rooms. The Santa Lucia Train Station is only a five minute walk away.

Venezia Palazzo Barocci – An elegant hotel with Grand Canal views, a café, garden, and private dock. Plus, it’s close to a ferry stop!

Start planning your time in Venice by booking your accommodation today

For those looking for sustainable travel tips, check out my guide to Responsible Travel in Venice

Other Notable Locations to Visit in Northern Italy

There are endless hidden gems in Northern Italy. While the above four main stops can comfortably be explored in two weeks. If you are a fast paced traveller and enjoy packing in as much as you can, or if you have a few extra days, the following locations can easily be seen in one day or added to your Northern Italy itinerary for an extended stay.

If you’re looking for dreamy or romantic places to visit in Italy than Verona is the place you’re after. Considered the Florence of the north. The medieval old town of Verona is famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. It’s here you’ll find ‘ Juliet’s House ’, with a 14-century tiny balcony that overlooks a courtyard.

While Juliet’s balcony may be Verona main attraction, it is also home to the Verona Arena. This large Roman amphitheater, from the first century, is one of the best preserved ancient structures in the world. It is still used today and hosts an array of performances, from concerts to operas.

Travel Tip: You can enjoy a nice day trip out to Lake Garda if you’re staying in Verona for a few days. There are trains and buses available that take 20 minutes to one hour respectively.

Tours in Verona

Verona Walking Tour of Must-See Sites – Explore the city and its top sites, like the Juliet Balcony, and learn about its neighbourhoods and interesting little-known facts.

Fascinating Verona: in the Footprints of Romeo and Juliet – This in-depth tour offers a guide to Verona through the words of Shakespeare while learning about the city’s Roman and romantic past.

Where to Stay in Verona

Relais La Torre – With a central location, close to the Arena in Verona, this mid-range guesthouse is partially set within a medieval building and offers stylish rooms.

Due Torri Hotel – This posh five star hotel is across from the Sant’Anastasia church and a short walk from the Verona Cathedral and bus station. It has an acclaimed restaurant, courtyard café, and terrace with views of the city!

Another incredible place to stop in Northern Italy is Bologna. This historic capital of the Emilia Romagna region is home to beautiful piazzas, great cafes, and stunning medieval and Renaissance architecture. Bologna is known for its medieval city centre, striking beauty and incredible food scene!

Some of the top things to do in Bologna include; climbing Italy’s tallest leaning tower – Asinelli Tower , visit Basilica of San Petronio, and wander its porticoes and markets. One of the best porticoes that should be added to your Northern Italy itinerary is the Portico of San Luca . It’s the world’s longest portico and home to stunning frescoes.

Day Trips from Bologna

Bologna makes for a great place to use as a base to the Emilia Romagna region. Many top destinations, as well as hidden gems, are within a couple of hours from Bologna.

San Marino – This microstate in the mountains is only two hours away by train. San Marino one of the smallest countries in the world! Spend a day or half day wandering the cobblestone streets in this magical medieval place with castle-like citadels.

Florence and Pisa – As the capital of the region of Tuscany, Florence is home to plenty of things to do, including museums and churches. Plus, you can easily do both Florence and Pisa on a day trip as Florence is only a 35-minute train ride away.

Tours in Bologna

Taste of Bologna Walking Tour – This walking tour combines a visit of some top places in the city with local tastings of Bolognese food like Parmigiano Reggiano as well as tales of ancient recipes.

Bologna City Walking Tour – For under $30 CAD you can enjoy a wander through the historic centre of the city, find hidden gems and learn about the interesting stories behind Bologna.

Where to Stay in Bologna

Starhotels Excelsior – Across from the Bologna Train Station, this mid-range four-star hotel is within walking distance to many attractions. It offers modern rooms, a restaurant, and gym.

Royal Hotel Carlton – For a little more luxury without breaking the bank, this hotel features Turkish baths, wellness treatments and has a great buffet breakfast. It also has parking on site.

Located just over the border, Turin is a great start to your 2 weeks in Northern Italy itinerary if you’re coming from France. Turin is the capital city of Piedmont and has the Alps rising over the city to the northwest.

Turin is home to striking architecture and delicious food! Here you can wander its grand squares, charming cafes, and stand in awe of its baroque buildings. One of the best landmarks in Turin to visit is the Royal Palace, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Some other top things to do in Turin include; the Mole Antonelliana – a towering museum, the Egyptian Museum, Valentina Park, and Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist to see the world famous Turin Shroud.

Did you know that Turin is known as the capital of chocolate in Italy?

Tours in Turin

Turin Patisserie Tour – This sweet food tour takes you to many of the best cafes and shops in the city. Learn about the history and taste dessert and pastries, like gianduiotti.

Underground Turin Walking Tour – This budget-friendly tour takes you off the beaten path and below the city. Discover tunnels, palaces, mysteries, and more under the streets of Turin.

Where to Stay in Turin

Arcadian Suites & Rooms – Located in downtown Turin, this mid-range bed and breakfast offers rooms and suites.

J Hotel – This mid-range 4-star hotel is located on the outskirts of downtown. It offers polished rooms as well as a bar and restaurant.

For those looking for luxury and relaxation consider visiting Lake Como. Set in Italy’s Lombardy region, at the base of the Alps, Lake Como is home to breathtaking scenery. It’s known as the Italian Lake District and a luxury resort area for the rich and famous, but there’s something for everyone here.

The city of Como is home to a waterfront promenade, a grand cathedral, as well as gardens and museums. Plus, don’t forget to take the funicular that takes you up to a beautiful mountain town, Brunate. From the top you can enjoy sweeping views. Another must-do is to take the 30 minute ferry ride across Lake Como to Bellagio.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for an alternative to Lake Como then visit Lake Maggiore.

Tours in Lake Como

Lake Como Food Tour – Sample the local cuisine of Northern Italy in Como’s old town. Learn about the area’s wine and food and visit some of the local favourite cafes and restaurants.

Como Sightseeing Tour and Lake Cruise – This full day tour takes you around Como and out on a cruise of the lake. Depending on the time of year you’ll stop at a few stunning places like Bellagio or Brunate.

Where to Stay in Lake Como

B&B dei Laghi – This cozy budget-friendly bed and breakfast is located in the small town of Magreglio. Rooms have a country chic vibe with renovated bathrooms.

Hotel Baia di Paré – Set on the shores of Lake Como, this mid-range hotel is close to the beach and has a pizzeria restaurant. Rooms have views of the lake or mountains!

One of the dreamiest places to add to your 2 weeks in Northern Italy itinerary is the Dolomites! This mountain range is approximately three and a half hours north of Venice, making it a great day trip from Venice.

The Dolomite Mountains are popular with outdoor adventurers. With towering peaks and stunning green valleys, it’s home to epic hiking trails, mountain climbing, and skiing. An awesome hike to do in the area is the nearly 10 km Tre Cime di Lavaredo that takes you across three different mountain peaks.

Nevertheless, there’s still plenty of things to do in the Dolomites for those looking for a relaxing visit. The region is full of charming mountain villages, incredible cuisine, and museums. Plus, the culture here is distinct as the region was part of Austria until just after WWI.

Tours in The Dolomites

Dolomites Full-day Tour from Lake Garda – If you’re staying in the Lake Garda area, this awesome full-day tour shows you the best of the Dolomites. It includes stops in towns, at viewpoints, and more!

Where to Stay in the Dolomites

Hotel Castel Pietra – With a spa, wellness centre, restaurant and free garage parking this 4-star hotel is unbelievably budget-friendly! Plus, it’s a short walk from Fiera di Primiero.

Hotel Garni La Roccia – Located in Andalo, this family mid-range hotel is close to the Paganella ski resort. Rooms are elegant and large. Plus, the hotel has a free wellness centre!

Molaris Lodge – This luxury hotel is in the centre of Rio Di Pusteria and has a garden, pool, playground and is close to the ski elevators. Rooms are cozy and most have balconies with mountain views.

Frequently Asked Questions for Visiting Northern Italy

When planning your two week northern Italy trip itinerary many questions will arise. So, below you’ll find travel tips to help with your frequently asked questions about planning a northern Italy trip! You’ll learn what is considered north Italy, the best time to go, where to spend time, and more!

Where is Northern Italy? – Northern Italy is flanked by the towering snow-capped Alps to the north and the green, rolling Apennine Mountains to the south. And the picturesque Ligurian Coast, home to Cinque Terre, to the west and the enchanting Venetian Plain to the east.

Best time to visit Northern Italy? – This all depends on what you want to do! If you’re planning to ski in the Dolomites then the best time is February and March. For those just looking to explore and not ski then the best time to plan your north Italy itinerary is between April to June or September and October. Temperatures are more comfortable and you will avoid peak season.

Things to do in Northern Italy – Take a gondola ride, Milan Cathedral, San Marco Square, hike the Dolomites, Juliet’s Balcony, hike in Cinque Terre, eat in Emilia-Romagna, take a food tour, the leaning towers of Bologna, and Garibaldi Palaces.

Top places to go in Northern Italy – Venice, Cinque Terre, Milan, Emilia Romagna, Verona, Lake Como, the Dolomites, Genoa, and Turin.

Italy Packing List – Packing for Northern Italy all depends on the time of year you’re visiting. But no matter the time of year, some Italy packing essentials include sun screen, a hat, comfortable shoes, portable power pack, and a scarf (which is great in the summer to cover your shoulders when visiting churches.)

Train vs. Car – Train travel in Italy is easy to navigate and will get you to all the main cities and smaller towns. However, if you are planning an Italy road trip a car is very convenient at times. But make sure you book your rental car far in advance. Also, if you are unfamiliar with driving in Italy, and Europe in general, you may find it difficult. You’ll need to learn the rules of the road, where to find parking, and more.

2 Weeks in Northern Italy Itinerary

I’ve generated a few sample itineraries for the perfect Northern Italy trip! Whether you’re planning a Northern Italy road trip for 2 weeks or looking to extent it to three, you’ll find a few great options below!

14 Day Northern Italy Itinerary

4 Days in Milan

3 Days in Genoa

3 Days in Cinque Terre

4 Days in Venice

2 or 3 Weeks in Italy Itineraries

2 Days/3 Days in Milan

1 Day/2 Days in Lake Como

1 Day in Turin

2 Days/3 Days in Genoa

2 Days/3 Days in Cinque Terre

2 Days/3 Days in Bologna

1 Day in Verona

1 Days/2 Days in Dolomites

2 Days/3 Days in Venice

Other European Itineraries you may like:

4 Days in Paris – The Perfect Paris Itinerary

4 Days in Venice & Why You Need More than One Day

The Perfect England 2 Week Itinerary

Northern Italy is full of natural wonders and incredible cities that are bursting with history. This 2 weeks in Northern Italy itinerary is the perfect starting point to start planning your dream-worthy Italian vacation today.

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Tags: Europe Italy travel

I'm a Canadian gal with a passion for travel, the great outdoors as well as coffee and books. I hope to inspire others to feel the same way! Traveling mostly solo, I love to explore my own backyard of Ontario as well as exotic cities around the world.

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The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge

Geoff Brumfiel

Willem Marx

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm. Solar Dynamics Observatory hide caption

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm.

Planet Earth is getting rocked by the biggest solar storm in decades – and the potential effects have those people in charge of power grids, communications systems and satellites on edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora across vast swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. So far though, NOAA has seen no reports of major damage.

The Picture Show

Photos: see the northern lights from rare, solar storm.

There has been some degradation and loss to communication systems that rely on high-frequency radio waves, NOAA told NPR, as well as some preliminary indications of irregularities in power systems.

"Simply put, the power grid operators have been busy since yesterday working to keep proper, regulated current flowing without disruption," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Boulder, Co.-based Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

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"Satellite operators are also busy monitoring spacecraft health due to the S1-S2 storm taking place along with the severe-extreme geomagnetic storm that continues even now," Dahl added, saying some GPS systems have struggled to lock locations and offered incorrect positions.

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured a flare erupting occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024.

As NOAA had warned late Friday, the Earth has been experiencing a G5, or "Extreme," geomagnetic storm . It's the first G5 storm to hit the planet since 2003, when a similar event temporarily knocked out power in part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The NOAA center predicted that this current storm could induce auroras visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama.

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed! pic.twitter.com/qLsC8GbWus — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 10, 2024

Around the world on social media, posters put up photos of bright auroras visible in Russia , Scandinavia , the United Kingdom and continental Europe . Some reported seeing the aurora as far south as Mallorca, Spain .

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots on the sun's surface that is 17 times the diameter of the Earth. The spots are filled with tangled magnetic fields that can act as slingshots, throwing huge quantities of charged particles towards our planet. These events, known as coronal mass ejections, become more common during the peak of the Sun's 11-year solar cycle.

A powerful solar storm is bringing northern lights to unusual places

Usually, they miss the Earth, but this time, NOAA says several have headed directly toward our planet, and the agency predicted that several waves of flares will continue to slam into the Earth over the next few days.

While the storm has proven to be large, predicting the effects from such incidents can be difficult, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disruptive solar storm ever recorded came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington Event," it generated shimmering auroras that were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. It also fried telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.

Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

While this geomagnetic storm will not be as strong, the world has grown more reliant on electronics and electrical systems. Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

my cat just experienced the aurora borealis, one of the world's most radiant natural phenomena... and she doesn't care pic.twitter.com/Ee74FpWHFm — PJ (@kickthepj) May 10, 2024

The storm is also likely to disrupt the ionosphere, a section of Earth's atmosphere filled with charged particles. Some long-distance radio transmissions use the ionosphere to "bounce" signals around the globe, and those signals will likely be disrupted. The particles may also refract and otherwise scramble signals from the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with NOAA. Those effects can linger for a few days after the storm.

Like Dahl, Steenburgh said it's unclear just how bad the disruptions will be. While we are more dependent than ever on GPS, there are also more satellites in orbit. Moreover, the anomalies from the storm are constantly shifting through the ionosphere like ripples in a pool. "Outages, with any luck, should not be prolonged," Steenburgh said.

What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure

The radiation from the storm could have other undesirable effects. At high altitudes, it could damage satellites, while at low altitudes, it's likely to increase atmospheric drag, causing some satellites to sink toward the Earth.

The changes to orbits wreak havoc, warns Tuija Pulkkinen, chair of the department of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan. Since the last solar maximum, companies such as SpaceX have launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Those satellites will now see their orbits unexpectedly changed.

"There's a lot of companies that haven't seen these kind of space weather effects before," she says.

The International Space Station lies within Earth's magnetosphere, so its astronauts should be mostly protected, Steenburgh says.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take additional measures to protect themselves. "NASA completed a thorough analysis of recent space weather activity and determined it posed no risk to the crew aboard the International Space Station and no additional precautionary measures are needed," the agency said late Friday.

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images hide caption

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

While this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities busy over the next few days, individuals don't really need to do much to get ready.

"As far as what the general public should be doing, hopefully they're not having to do anything," Dahl said. "Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight." He advised that the largest problem could be a brief blackout, so keeping some flashlights and a radio handy might prove helpful.

I took these photos near Ranfurly in Central Otago, New Zealand. Anyone can use them please spread far and wide. :-) https://t.co/NUWpLiqY2S — Dr Andrew Dickson reform/ACC (@AndrewDickson13) May 10, 2024

And don't forget to go outside and look up, adds Steenburgh. This event's aurora is visible much further south than usual.

A faint aurora can be detected by a modern cell phone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try taking a photo of the sky.

The aurora "is really the gift from space weather," he says.

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Money blog: Major free childcare change kicks in today as parents of younger children can now apply

From today, eligible parents of children from nine-months-old in England can register for 15 free hours of childcare per week. Read this and the rest of our Weekend Money features, and leave a comment, and we'll be back with rolling personal finance and consumer news on Monday.

Sunday 12 May 2024 11:59, UK

Weekend Money

• Free childcare applications open for new age band
• 'Loud budgeting': The money-saving trend that has nothing to do with giving up your daily coffee
• What is most in-demand period property?
• £12m tea advert, downsizing, £320 tasting menus and job interview mistakes: What readers have said this week
• Where has huge week for UK economy left us?

Best of the week

• How to avoid a holiday data roaming charge (while still using the internet)
• Mortgage rates up again this week - here are the best deals on the market
• My daughter discovered undeclared £600 management fee after buying her flat - can we complain?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

From Sunday, eligible working parents of children from nine-months-old in England will be able to register for access to up to 15 free hours of government-funded childcare per week.

This will then be granted from September. 

Check if you're eligible  here  - or read on for our explainer on free childcare across the UK.

Three and four year olds

In England, all parents of children aged three and four in England can claim 15 hours of free childcare per week, for 1,140 hours (38 weeks) a year, at an approved provider.

This is a universal offer open to all.

It can be extended to 30 hours where both parents (or the sole parent) are in work, earn the weekly minimum equivalent of 16 hours at the national minimum or living wage, and have an income of less than £100,000 per year.

Two year olds

Previously, only parents in receipt of certain benefits were eligible for 15 hours of free childcare.

But, as of last month, this was extended to working parents.

This is not a universal offer, however.

A working parent must earn more than £8,670 but less than £100,000 per year. For couples, the rule applies to both parents.

Nine months old

In September, this same 15-hour offer will be extended to working parents of children aged from nine months. From 12 May, those whose children will be at least nine months old on 31 August can apply to received the 15 hours of care from September.

From September 2025

The final change to the childcare offer in England will be rolled out in September 2025, when eligible working parents of all children under the age of five will be able to claim 30 hours of free childcare a week.

In some areas of Wales, the Flying Start early years programme offers 12.5 hours of free childcare for 39 weeks, for eligible children aged two to three. The scheme is based on your postcode area, though it is currently being expanded.

All three and four-year-olds are entitled to free early education of 10 hours per week in approved settings during term time under the Welsh government's childcare offer.

Some children of this age are entitled to up to 30 hours per week of free early education and childcare over 48 weeks of the year. The hours can be split - but at least 10 need to be used on early education.

To qualify for this, each parent must earn less than £100,000 per year, be employed and earn at least the equivalent of working 16 hours a week at the national minimum wage, or be enrolled on an undergraduate, postgraduate or further education course that is at least 10 weeks in length.

All three and four-year-olds living in Scotland are entitled to at least 1,140 hours per year of free childcare, with no work or earnings requirements for parents. 

This is usually taken as 30 hours per week over term time (38 weeks), though each provider will have their own approach.

Some households can claim free childcare for two-year-olds. To be eligible you have to be claiming certain benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit, or have a child that is in the care of their local council or living with you under a guardianship order or kinship care order.

Northern Ireland

There is no scheme for free childcare in Northern Ireland. Some other limited support is available.

Working parents can access support from UK-wide schemes such as tax credits, Universal Credit, childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare.

Aside from this, all parents of children aged three or four can apply for at least 12.5 hours a week of funded pre-school education during term time. But over 90% of three-year-olds have a funded pre-school place - and of course this is different to childcare.

What other help could I be eligible for?

Tax-free childcare  - Working parents in the UK can claim up to £500 every three months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of their children to help with childcare costs. 

If the child is disabled, the amount goes up to £1,000 every three months (up to £4,000 a year).

To claim the benefit, parents will need to open a tax-free childcare account online. For every 80p paid into the account, the government will top it up by 20p.

The scheme is available until the September after the child turns 11.

Universal credit  - Working families on universal credit can claim back up to 85% of their monthly childcare costs, as long as the care is paid for upfront. The most you can claim per month is £951 for one child or £1,630 for two or more children.

Tax credits -  People claiming working tax credit can get up to 70% of what they pay for childcare if their costs are no more than £175 per week for one child or £300 per work for multiple children.

By Jess Sharp , Money team 

Money saving trends are constantly popping up on social media - but one in particular has been gaining huge amounts of attention.

Created accidentally by a comedian, loud budgeting is breaking down the taboo of speaking about money.

The idea is based on being firmer/more vocal about your financial boundaries in social situations and setting out what you are happy to spend your money on, instead of "Keeping up with the Joneses". 

On TikTok alone, videos published under the hashtag #loudbudgeting have garnered more than 30 million views - and that figure is continuing to climb. 

We spoke to Lukas Battle - the 26-year-old who unintentionally created the trend as part of a comedy sketch. 

Based in New York, he came up with the term in a skit about the "quiet luxury" hype, which had spread online in 2023 inspired by shows like Succession. 

The term was used for humble bragging about your wealth with expensive items that were subtle in their design - for example, Gwyneth Paltrow's  £3,900 moss green wool coat from The Row, which she wore during her ski resort trial...

"I was never a big fan of the quiet luxury trend, so I just kind of switched the words and wrote 'loud budgeting is in'. I'm tired of spending money and I don't want to pretend to be rich," Lukas said. 

"That's how it started and then the TikTok comments were just obsessed with that original idea." 

This was the first time he mentioned it...

Lukas explained that it wasn't about "being poor" but about not being afraid of sharing your financial limits and "what's profitable for you personally". 

"It's not 'skip a coffee a day and you'll become a millionaire'."

While talking money has been seen as rude or taboo, he said it's something his generation is more comfortable doing. 

"I've seen more debate around the topic and I think people are really intrigued and attracted by the idea," he said. 

"It's just focusing your spending and time on things you enjoy and cutting out the things you might feel pressured to spend your money on."  

He has incorporated loud budgeting into his own life, telling his friends "it's free to go outside" and opting for cheaper dinner alternatives.

"Having the terminology and knowing it's a trend helps people understand it and there's no awkward conversation around it," he said. 

The trend has been a big hit with so-called American "finfluencers", or "financial influencers", but people in the UK have started practising it as well. 

Mia Westrap has taken up loud budgeting by embarking on a no-buy year and sharing her finances with her 11.3k TikTok followers. 

Earning roughly £2,100 a month, she spends around £1,200 on essentials, like rent, petrol and car insurance, but limits what else she can purchase. 

Clothes, fizzy drinks, beauty treatments, makeup, dinners out and train tickets are just some things on her "red list". 

The 26-year-old PHD student first came across the idea back in 2017, but decided to take up the challenge this year after realising she was living "pay check to pay check". 

She said her "biggest fear" in the beginning was that her friends wouldn't understand what she was doing, but she found loud budgeting helped. 

"I'm still trying my best to just go along with what everyone wants to do but I just won't spend money while we do it and my friends don't mind that, we don't make a big deal out of it," she said. 

So far, she has been able to save £1,700, and she said talking openly about her money has been "really helpful". 

"There's no way I could have got this far if I wasn't baring my soul to the internet about the money I have spent. It has been a really motivating factor."

Financial expert John Webb said loud budgeting has the ability to help many "feel empowered" and create a "more realistic" relationship with money.

"This is helping to normalise having open and honest conversations about finances," the consumer affair manager at Experien said. 

"It can also reduce the anxiety some might have by keeping their financial worries to themselves." 

However, he warned it's important to be cautious and to take the reality of life into consideration. 

"It could cause troubles within friendship groups if they're not on the same page as you or have different financial goals," he said.

"This challenge isn't meant to stop you from having fun, but it is designed to help people become more conscious and intentional when it comes to money, and reduce the stigma around talking about it." 

Rightmove's keyword tool shows Victorian-era houses are the most commonly searched period properties, with people drawn to their ornate designs and features.

Georgian and Edwardian-style are second and third respectively, followed by Tudor properties. Regency ranked in fifth place.

Rightmove property expert Tim Bannister said: "Home hunters continue to be captivated by the character and charm of properties that we see in period dramas.

"Victorian homes remain particularly popular, characterised by their historic charm, solid construction, and spacious interiors. You'll often find Victorian houses in some of the most desirable locations which include convenient access to schools and transport links."

Throughout the week Money blog readers have shared their thoughts on the stories we've been covering, with the most correspondence coming in on...

• A hotly contested debate on the best brand of tea
• Downsizing homes
• The cost of Michelin-starred food

Job interview mistakes

On Wednesday we reported on a new £12m ad from PG Tips in response to it falling behind rivals such as Twinings, Yorkshire Tea and Tetley....

We had lots of comments like this...

How on earth was the PG Tips advert so expensive? I prefer Tetley tea, PG Tips is never strong enough flavour for me. Shellyleppard

The reason for the sales drop with PG Tips could be because they increased the price and reduced the quantity of bags from 240 to 180 - it's obvious. Royston

And then this question which we've tried to answer below...

Why have PG Tips changed from Pyramid shape tea bags, to a square? Sam

Last year PG Tips said it was changing to a square bag that left more room for leaves to infuse, as the bags wouldn't fold over themselves.

We reported on data showing how downsizing could save you money for retirement - more than £400,000, in some regions, by swapping four beds for two.

Some of our readers shared their experiences...

We are downsizing and moving South so it's costing us £100k extra for a smaller place, all money from retirement fund. AlanNorth

Interesting read about downsizing for retirement. We recently did this to have the means to retire early at 52. However, we bought a house in the south of France for the price of a flat in our town in West Sussex. Now living the dream! OliSarah

How much should we pay for food?

Executive chef at London's two-Michelin-starred Ikoyi, Jeremy Chan, raised eyebrows when he suggested to the Money blog that Britons don't pay enough for restaurant food.

Ikoyi, the 35th best restaurant in the world, charges £320 for its tasting menu. 

"I don't think people pay enough money for food, I think we charge too little, [but] we want to always be accessible to as many people as possible, we're always trying our best to do that," he said, in a piece about his restaurant's tie up with Uber Eats... 

We had this in... 

Are they serious? That is two weeks' worth of food shopping for me, if the rich can afford this "tasting menu" then they need to be taxed even more by the government, it's just crazy! Steve T

If the rate of pay is proportionate to the vastly overpriced costs of the double Michelin star menu, I would gladly peel quail eggs for four-hour stints over continuing to be abused as a UK supply teacher. AndrewWard

Does this two-star Michelin star chef live in the real world? Who gives a toss if he stands and peels his quails eggs for four hours, and he can get the best turbot from the fishmonger fresh on a daily basis? It doesn't justify the outrageous price he is charging for his tasting menu. Topaztraveller

Chefs do make me laugh, a steak is just a steak, they don't make the meat! They just cook it like the rest of us, but we eat out because we can't be bothered cooking! StevieGrah

Finally, many of you reacted to this feature on common mistakes in job interviews...

Those 10 biggest mistakes people make in interviews is the dumbest thing I've ever read. They expect all that and they'll be offering a £25k a year job. Why wouldn't I want to know about benefits and basic sick pay? And also a limp handshake? How's that relevant to how you work? Jre90

Others brought their own tips...

Whenever I go for an interview I stick to three points: 1. Be yourself 2. Own the interview 3. Wear the clothes that match the job you are applying Kevin James Blakey

Two big economic moments dominated the news agenda in Money this week - interest rates and GDP.

As expected, the Bank of England held the base rate at 5.25% on Wednesday - but a shift in language was instructive about what may happen next.

Bank governor Andrew Bailey opened the door to a summer cut to 5%, telling reporters that an easing of rates at the next Monetary Policy Committee meeting on 20 June was neither ruled out nor a fait accompli.

More surprisingly, he suggested that rate cuts, when they start, could go deeper "than currently priced into market rates".

He refused to be drawn on what that path might look like - but markets had thought rates could bottom out at 4.5% or 4.75% this year, and potentially 3.5% or 4% next.

"To make sure that inflation stays around the 2% target - that inflation will neither be too high nor too low - it's likely that we will need to cut Bank rate over the coming quarters and make monetary policy somewhat less restrictive over the forecast period," Mr Bailey said.

You can read economics editor Ed Conway's analysis of the Bank's decision here ...

On Friday we discovered the UK is no longer in recession.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.6% between January and March, the Office for National Statistics said.

This followed two consecutive quarters of the economy shrinking.

The data was more positive than anticipated.

"Britain is not just out of recession," wrote Conway. "It is out of recession with a bang."

The UK has seen its fastest growth since the tailend of the pandemic - and Conway picked out three other reasons for optimism.

1/ An economic growth rate of 0.6% is near enough to what economists used to call "trend growth". It's the kind of number that signifies the economy growing at more or less "normal" rates.

2/ 0.6% means the UK is, alongside Canada, the fastest-growing economy in the G7 (we've yet to hear from Japan, but economists expect its economy to contract in the first quarter).

3/ Third, it's not just gross domestic product that's up. So too is gross domestic product per head - the number you get when you divide our national income by every person in the country. After seven years without any growth, GDP per head rose by 0.4% in the first quarter.

GDP per head is a more accurate yardstick for the "feelgood factor", said Conway - perhaps meaning people will finally start to feel better off.

For more on where Friday's figures leaves us, listen to an Ian King Business Podcast special...

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money .

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

If you've missed any of the features we've been running in Money this year, or want to check back on something you've previously seen in the blog, this archive of our most popular articles may help...

Loaves of bread have been recalled from shelves in Japan after they were found to contain the remains of a rat.

Production of the bread in Tokyo has been halted after parts of a "small animal" were found by at least two people.

Pasco Shikishima Corp, which produces the bread, said 104,000 packages have been recalled as it apologised and promised compensation.

A company representative told Sky News's US partner network, NBC News, that a "small black rat" was found in the bread. No customers were reported to have fallen ill as a result of ingesting the contaminated bread.

"We deeply apologise for the serious inconvenience and trouble this has caused to our customers, suppliers, and other concerned parties," the spokesman said.

Pasco added in a separate statement that "we will do our utmost to strengthen our quality controls so that this will never happen again. We ask for your understanding and your co-operation."

Japanese media reports said at least two people who bought the bread in the Gunma prefecture, north-west of Tokyo, complained to the company about finding a rodent in the bread.

Record levels of shoplifting appear to be declining as fewer shopkeepers reported thefts last year, new figures show. 

A survey by the Office for National Statistics shows 26% of retailers experienced customer theft in 2023, down from a record high of 28% in 2022.

This comes despite a number of reports suggesting shoplifting is becoming more frequent. 

A  separate ONS finding , which used police crime data, showed reports of shoplifting were at their highest level in 20 years in 2023, with law enforcements logging 430,000 instances of the crime.

Let's get you up to speed on the biggest business news of the past 24 hours. 

A privately owned used-car platform is circling Cazoo Group, its stricken US-listed rival, which is on the brink of administration.

Sky News has learnt that Motors.co.uk is a leading contender to acquire Cazoo's marketplace operation, which would include its brand and intellectual property assets.

The process to auction the used-car platform's constituent parts comes after it spent tens of millions of pounds on sponsorship deals in football, snooker and darts in a rapid attempt to gain market share.

The owner of British Airways has reported a sharp rise in profits amid soaring demand for trips and a fall in the cost of fuel.

International Airlines Group said its operating profit for the first three months of the year was €68m (£58.5m) - above expectations and up from €9m (£7.7m) during the same period in 2023.

The company, which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling, said earnings had soared thanks to strong demand, particularly over the Easter holidays.

The prospect of a strike across Tata Steel's UK operations has gained further traction after a key union secured support for industrial action.

Community, which has more than 3,000 members, said 85% voted in favour of fighting the India-owned company's plans for up to 2,800 job losses, the majority of them at the country's biggest steelworks in Port Talbot, South Wales.

Tata confirmed last month it was to press ahead with the closure of the blast furnaces at the plant, replacing them with electric arc furnaces to reduce emissions and costs.

In doing so, the company rejected an alternative plan put forward by the Community, GMB and Unite unions that, they said, would raise productivity and protect jobs across the supply chain.

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Recently retired tennis player Camila Giorgi on the run from Italian tax authorities, per report

This week, Italian tennis player Camila Giorgi, who achieved a ranking of No. 26 in the world, abruptly retired without a statement giving a reason why.

On Saturday, La Gazzetta dello Sporto , an Italian newspaper, reported that retirement is not a coincidence.

According to the report, The Guardia di Finanza, Italy's financial police, is looking for Giorgi and investigating her nonpayment of taxes and undeclared income.

Authorities are also investigating Giorgi's family members, including her mother, father and two brothers, all of whom are alleged to have "gaps" in their tax return filings.

Giorgi, 32, has not been seen since her retirement was announced May 7. The last time she competed in a tournament was last month at the Miami Open, where she was routed 6-1, 6-1 by Iga Swiatek in the second round.

Giorgi is already under investigation for allegedly forging her COVID-19 vaccine documentation to gain entry to the 2022 Australian Open and was scheduled to appear before a judge in Italy on July 16.

According to the newspaper report, Giorgi and her family are on the run and are believed to be in the United States.

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What to Know About Xi Jinping’s Trip to Europe

The Chinese president this week will be visiting France, Serbia and Hungary. His trip comes at a time of tensions with many European countries over trade and accusations of Chinese espionage.

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By Emma Bubola

This week, for the first time in five years, President Xi Jinping of China is visiting Europe, with stops in France, Serbia and Hungary.

Mr. Xi’s trip comes at a time of tensions with many European countries over China’s support for Russia in the face of its war in Ukraine, its trade practices and its apparent espionage activities . The trip will also test Europe’s delicate balancing act between China and the United States.

Mr. Xi hopes to head off a trade war with the European Union as frictions rise over exports of Chinese electric vehicles and diminished market access for European companies in China. Mr. Xi will also encourage President Emmanuel Macron of France to pursue greater autonomy from the United States in a bid to weaken Washington’s global dominance.

Here is what we know about Mr. Xi’s trip, which began Sunday.

What is the significance of Mr. Xi’s itinerary?

The three countries Mr. Xi will be visiting, experts say , to varying degrees embrace China’s push for a redefined global order. All have to some extent questioned America’s postwar ordering of the world, and are eager to bolster ties with Beijing.

Hungary has close ties to China and is keen to attract Chinese investments in areas like electric car and battery manufacturing as Chinese producers expand beyond Asia. Serbia, too, has warm relations with Beijing and has secured billions of dollars in Chinese investment.

Mr. Xi’s first stop is France, where Mr. Macron recently said that Europe “must never be a vassal of the United States,” and has cast France as a bridge between the “Global South” and Western powers.

Despite his courting of Beijing, Mr. Macron has said he is still closer to its ally, the United States, than to China.

“I prefer to choose my relationship with the United States, with China, rather than have it imposed on me by one of the two parties, either pushing me in one direction or pulling me in the other,” he said in an interview with The Economist magazine. But, he added: “Very clearly, we are not equidistant. We are allies of the Americans.”

Before Mr. Xi’s visit, Chinese diplomats expressed hopes that ties between France and China would be at the forefront of China’s relations with the West .

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, the E.U.’s executive branch, joined talks on Monday with Mr. Xi and Mr. Macron in Paris.

This year is also a symbolic one for China and the three countries.

It is the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France and the 75th of those with Hungary.

This year is also the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, during the Kosovo war, which killed three Chinese journalists and set off angry protests at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Chinese authorities have continued to point to the bombing as a sign of NATO aggression and an example of why Russia was justified in feeling threatened before it decided to invade Ukraine.

When was the last time Mr. Xi visited Europe?

Mr. Xi’s last European visit was in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, which he spent hunkered down in China, leaving the country’s borders for the first time in the fall of 2022 .

The 2019 trip included a flashy ceremony in Rome to celebrate Italy’s participation in China’s Belt and Road global infrastructure project, which is aimed at expanding China’s influence abroad. France rolled out the red carpet for Mr. Xi in Paris and signed more than a dozen commercial and governmental treaties worth billions of euros, even as Mr. Macron warned that “China plays on our divisions” and that “the period of European naïveté is over.”

Mr. Xi also visited Greece , where he pledged his support to the country in its struggle with Britain to obtain the Parthenon sculptures known as the Elgin Marbles .

How is the relationship between Europe and China?

Since Mr. Xi’s last visit, there has been a widening rift in the relationship between China and much of Europe. The coronavirus pandemic , Beijing’s embrace of Russia and its repression of ethnic minorities, and a surge in Chinese exports have generated backlashes against China in many European countries.

China has quintupled car shipments to foreign markets in recent years, and the European Union has recently adopted a more confrontational tone over China’s trade practices. E.U. authorities have opened an investigation that could result in limits on Chinese solar exports, and have taken preliminary steps toward restricting trade with Chinese goods that include electric cars, wind turbines and medical devices.

Italy has also told China that it would no longer participate in its Belt and Road Initiative, and last month, six people in Europe were charged with spying for China in the span of a week, in a sign that European countries are stepping up their response to Chinese espionage.

At the same time, European nations vary in their views on how to engage with Beijing and benefit from economic opportunities there, and some are fearful of any imposition of European tariffs.

Mr. Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany also think that China’s leverage will be critical in bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.

David Pierson contributed reporting from Hong Kong, and Aurelien Breeden from Paris.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in London, covering news across Europe and around the world. More about Emma Bubola

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Where do we start? 

If you’re intent on locking in on one central story at the 2024 PGA Championship this week at Valhalla in Louisville, Ky., good luck with that. 

“The gods of script writing have shone a very bright light on the PGA Championship for years,’’ CBS commentator Jim Nantz said. “They have put on some of the most exciting majors of all. And Valhalla has produced some memorable and epic events there — Tiger [Woods] and Bob May, Rory [McIlroy] edging out Rickie [Fowler] and Phil [Mickelson] at the end in darkness in 2014, the [2012] Ryder Cup. 

“I kind of feel like Valhalla is charmed and just has this ability to produce high drama, so I can’t wait to see what it’s going to be this time.’’ 

You could focus on world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who enters this week having won four of his last five starts, including his second Masters green jacket . 

Scheffler has finished no worse than in a tie for 17th in his 10 tournaments this year. The only tournament he didn’t win in the past five he finished runner-up. 

Oh yes, Scheffler also enters the week having taken this week’s Wells Fargo Championship off to be with his wife, Meredith, who’s expecting the couple’s first child any minute.

If she doesn’t give birth before Thursday’s opening round, but does during the tournament, Scheffler is on record saying he’d leave immediately. 

So, there’s that drama lurking. 

There, too, is always McIlroy drama . 

The Northern Irishman last won a major championship 10 years ago at — you guessed it — Valhalla. That was McIlroy’s second consecutive major championship, having won the British Open the month before. And, at that time, the assumption was that McIlroy would coast to double-digit career majors. 

Instead, he’s stuck on the same four he had when he left Valhalla a decade ago. 

And it’s not as if McIlroy has lost his game since Valhalla. In the 35 majors McIlroy has played since Valhalla 2014, he’s finished in the top 10 23 times and in the top 5 11 times. He’s finished eighth and tied for seventh in his last two PGA Championships. 

Shifting from the McIlroy storyline, we bring you to LIV Golf and the 16 players representing the controversial Saudi-backed tour that’s poached some of the best players in the world from the PGA Tour. 

At the head of the LIV Golf list this week is Brooks Koepka, who happens to be the defending champion and a three-time PGA Championship winner. 

Oh yes, and Koepka is fresh off winning the latest LIV tournament — right on cue — as he tries to cement his reputation as one of the sport’s great big-game hunters and bag a fourth PGA and a sixth career major. 

Also among the LIV contingent is Jon Rahm, the former world No. 1 who’s had a rather quiet run on the Saudi circuit. Rahm is coming off a disappointing Masters. 

Mickelson, three years removed from his remarkable PGA win at Kiawah Island, and Bryson DeChambeau also will be taking their shots at Valhalla, as will Cam Smith, who was ranked No. 2 in the world before signing with LIV. 

Two other huge stories lurking this week involve a pair of best friends — Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. 

Thomas is a native of the Louisville area and desperately wants to win in front of his family and friends in his hometown.

Though his form has been inconsistent for a while, Thomas does have two major championships on his résumé — and both of them are PGA Championships. 

Spieth, whose form also has been erratic of late, needs a PGA Championship title to complete the career grand slam, something only five players in the history of the game have accomplished. 

Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open in 2015 and the British Open 2017, so this will be his eighth attempt at history. 

A year ago at Oak Hill, Michael Block, then an unknown club pro from Mission Viejo, Calif., was arguably the bigger rock star for the week other than Koepka, who was the one to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy. 

Block, among other things, had a hole-in-one while paired with McIlroy in the final round, and finished tied for 15th, which earned him an exemption into this week’s PGA. 

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Will there be another Block Party at Valhalla? 

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Tiger Woods, who’s coming off his record 24th consecutive made cut at the Masters in April.

He finished last among the players who made the cut, but he finished, which was an accomplishment given his litany of physical ailments. 

Woods won the second of his four PGA Championships at Valhalla 24 years ago, staving off little-known May in an epic Sunday battle. 

What might Woods have in store this week? 

Another cut made? In contention over the weekend? 

Drama awaits.

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