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My husband and I had been dreaming of visiting Italy. In June 2018, we turned our dream into a reality. We spent the best ten days in Italy visiting the most amazing sites. I’d love to help you plan your perfect vacation by sharing our Italy trip itinerary along with some tips. Let’s jump in.
How we planned our trip
We first decided how long our vacation was going to be. This is important because it will largely influence how much you will be able to see. We settled on a 10-day trip and started to list our must-see places.
From there, we tried to map an Italy trip itinerary that would take us through all of our bucket list places in 10 days. We found that to be impossible. Italy is quite spread out. We kept on refining the list until we got to something realistic. Here is what the outcome looked like.
10-day Italy trip itinerary
Departure – First stop Milan
We departed on a night flight which is typical for European flights from the US. If you have never been on a night flight, here are a few tips:
- Wear clothing that is comfortable both to sleep and also to start your visit. You might not get into a hotel for several hours after you land.
- Check what comfort items your airline offers and bring additional items if they aren’t offered such as a travel pillow and light blanket.
- Bring a toiletry kit on board. Brush your teeth, wash your face, take off your contacts, etc. This will help you get into a sleeping mood.
- Try to sleep on the flight. This is so hard because you will be excited about the journey ahead. However, if you don’t, the first day will be tough. It will take you longer to adapt to the time change.
- If breakfast is offered before landing, take it. Eating at “normal” local time is one of the best ways to get adjusted to the time change. It might feel like 3 am for you, but have that cup of coffee and yogurt.
If you are new to flying, check out this article with some of the best tips for beginners.
We landed in Milan around 8:30 am local time. After retrieving our suitcases, we located the train station to head off to our first city.
Verona
We chose Verona as our first stop on this Italy trip itinerary for a few reasons. Verona is a short train ride away from Milan. After boarding the train, we arrived in Milan about one and a half hours later.
Verona is a beautiful smaller city in Italy. We knew we would be tired. Therefore, we wanted to have a lighter day in terms of bucket list items to hit.
Verona is the city where the fictional Romeo and Juliet story takes place. You can visit Juliet’s fictional balcony.
The city also has its own Colosseum. Although it is much smaller than the one in Rome, it is very impressive. This Colosseum is used as a concert venue now. We did not see a show while we were there, but we heard one!
We were only in Verona until the next morning and spent most of our time walking around. They have beautiful bridges and medieval structures.
We stayed at hotel Giulietta e Romeo perfectly located in Old Verona, one block away from the Colosseum. The hotel offers breakfast, and rates are currently about 170 Euros.
We had our first Aperol spritz and our first appetizer of fresh olives. As a fun fact, I did not like olives until going to Italy. I am now a fan, although I have never found olives as good in the US.
We had lunch at Le Cantine de l’Arena, which is right across from the Colosseum. The food was good from what I can remember. We were quite jet-lagged and starving, so the bar was probably low. In general, I would say if you eat in a high tourist area, the food isn’t great. You end up paying for the location.
I do not remember where we ate dinner. We took this trip before I started blogging. I, unfortunately, did not take good notes regarding where we ate. We left by train the next morning for our second destination.
Venice
Of course, we had to visit Venice. Who knows how long it will be around? We found Venice to be very unique as expected, and also very crowded.
Venice is an island. When you arrive, you will need to make your way to the Ferry station to get to the Island. This part of the process is quite easy to navigate.
Tip: Make sure your carry your backpack in front of you. The same applies to a purse. Do not put your wallet or other essential documents in your back pocket. There are a lot of pickpockets and you are so tightly packed together that it is effortless for them to steal from you. I highly recommend that you get a money belt. Both my husband and I had one to carry our credit cards, passports, money, and room key.
Here are a few important things to know about Venice.
- It is very confusing to navigate. Print a map showing you how to get to your hotel from the Ferry.
- There are no cars in Venice. Although you probably knew that, this means you will walk to your hotel with your luggage. The roads are uneven and they will be packed with people. Have patience.
- The population of Venice is probably 90% tourists or tourism workers. It is the only place in Italy where we encountered not very nice Italians.
- It is dirtier than it looks in pictures and has a little bit of a smell.
- There are a lot of street vendors. You will also encounter them in Rome. They are pushy. In Venice, their tactic is to tell you how beautiful you are and try to get your partner to buy a rose from them.
We stayed at Hotel Al Codega. It was great. The classic room is currently about 179 Euros. I think we upgrade to a deluxe room or suite. It was a really large room for Europe standard with a parlor/sitting room. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The included breakfast was convenient.
The most memorable site in Venice is the St-Marks Basilica. It is stunning. We also enjoyed Ponte Rialto. It’s in a busy area off of Grand Canal. Try to stop in the area for a drink and appetizer to take in the scenery and do some people-watching.
We walked all over the island and enjoyed getting lost. Later that night, we did a gondola ride. That was a joke and I would not recommend it. This is not romantic. You are with dozens of other gondolas and there is one guy signing who may or may not be on your gondola. I’d skip this if I was you.
We stayed in Venice one night and hopped on the train the next morning.
Train travel tips: You can purchase your tickets online which saves you time when you arrive at the train station. In our experience, the trains were on time. You cannot just switch to the next train if you miss yours. Be on time. When buying your ticket, pay attention to the amenities. For example, the internet isn’t always included but can be really useful for planning the next portion of your Italy trip itinerary. Additionally, some tickets will include free snacks and drinks or get your access to a restaurant. Depending on the length of your ride and time of day, these might be important considerations.
Florence
Florence is a beautiful city that I would not skip. We stayed there for two nights and found this length perfect. Anytime we stay somewhere for more than one day, we try to find an apartment rental via Airbnb or VRBO. We generally find this to be a cheaper option which gives us more space and flexibility. For longer trips, we look for apartments that have a washer which allows us to pack less.
The apartment we rented is no longer listed. It was located in a perfect location a block away from Ponte Vecchio on the South shore of the Arno river.
Florence is extremely walkable. The only time we used public transportation was from and to the train station. We just walked everywhere, which was great to burn all the amazing food and drinks we had. Speaking of, the breakfast paninis (sandwiches) are phenomenal.
Here is a list of our favorite attractions in Florence:
- Ponte Vecchio: This is the iconic bridge, with all the shops located directly on the bridge.
- Piazza Della Signoria: the most beautiful square in central Florence with tons of Statues, including a replica of the David and Fountain of Neptune.
- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo): Stunning cathedral began construction in 1296 and opened in 1436. You can climb to the top of the dome with reservations. We did not reserve in time and were not able to do so.
- Piazzale Michelangelo: Beautiful piazza where the bronze replica of Michelangelo’s famous David statue is located. This piazza offers stunning views of the city of Florence.
- Cimitero delle Porte Sante: Behind the Piazzale Michelangelo is a burial site established in 1837. The site is quite beautiful and serves as the final resting place of many illustrious figures.
- Basilica of Santa Croce: Another stunning structure that opened in 1442.
It is common for people to book day trips from Florence, such as winery tours. We did not do so. It is one of the only regrets we have. We both enjoy wine. If we return, we will make sure to book a food and wine tour in Tuscany.
After two fantastic days in Florence, we once again boarded the train.
Amalfi Coast
We embarked on our longest train ride. A three-hour ride from Florence to Naples. For this nice long ride, we made sure this time to have access to the restaurant and bar wagon. When we arrived in Naples, we had already arranged for private transport to the Amalfi Coast.
This may sound fancy, but it is not. The private transport cost was reasonable at about 140 Euro each way. This is a one-and-a-half-hour car ride in very hilly and twisty terrain. We were glad we were not driving!
The views are beautiful during this ride. You are driving through lemon and olive farms. It seems surreal.
We stayed in Amalfi for three nights. We rented a small home, high in the hills where the view was breathtaking. All of our neighbors were locals. It was a unique experience to see them tend to their farms and walk up and down the many steps with their donkeys.
I cannot find the exact apartment that we rented. I will say it was outdated, yet perfect for the experience we wanted. A few things to know about the Amalfi region:
- It is on a cliff. Therefore, there are a lot of steps. We were about 30-45 minutes walk (up and down steps) to get to downtown Amalfi.
- They have a good bus system that can pick you up along the main road and take you downtown or to neighboring towns.
- Depending on where your rental is located, there may not be a nearby restaurant. Therefore, you might find yourself cooking at “home”. Even the market is not the grocery store you have at home. You will need to be flexible.
We took it slow while we were in Amalfi. We slept in and enjoy watching our view.
We arrived mid-afternoon on the first day. We spent quite a while trying to find the market. Remember, it’s a cliff. While something might look close on the map, it could be many “layers” lower on the mountain. Let’s just say this was an adventure.
We dined at home the first night. The next morning, we ventured down to town and visited the small and pretty Amalfi. It was a nice refreshing slower pace from Venice and Florence. We spent our afternoon at home enjoying the sun and the view.
That night, we were able to walk to Pogerola for dinner. The walk on the main road was a little stressful in the dark at night. We ate at Da Bruno Alla Carcara, a recommendation from our VRBO host. It was delicious, with a spectacular view. I highly recommend it.
The next day we booked an excursion to Capri. We walked downtown to Amalfi again to catch the ferry. On Capri, we enjoyed visiting the island and shopping. We also took a boat trip to see the iconic Blue Grotto. It was an amazing experience. I recommend it.
Our private transport came to pick us up the next morning. We hopped on the train for the last time.
Rome
Our final destination in Italy was Rome. Once more, we rented a small apartment on VRBO for the last three nights of our Italy trip itinerary.
We rented this small flat only a few blocks away from the Colosseum. We could see it a bit from our window. Although the place was tiny, it was just what we needed. We had a small kitchenette that we did not use. There were plenty of great affordable restaurants around us.
Right across the street from us was St. Clement Basilica. There is a cool story about it. For months, they could hear water dripping, but couldn’t find the source. After much investigation, they found ruins of the church many layers below them.
Here is a list of our favorite attractions while in Rome:
- Colosseum and Roman Forum: If you like history, you should not miss out on taking an actual tour. With a guide, you will learn a lot more and also skip the lines. It makes for a more pleasant visit.
- Trevi Fountain: One of the most famous fountains in the world, built in the 18th century.
- Spanish steps: Monumental stairway of 135 steps built between 1723 and 1725.
- Pantheon: Former Roman temple first built in 609 AD.
- Vatican City: Once again, I recommend booking a guided tour so that you can skip the lines and enjoy proper explanations of everything. Make sure men wear long pants (no shorts) and women have pants or skirts below the knees and something covering the shoulders. This is true for most religious establishments.
- Walking the street and being amazed at how old everything is!
Unfortunately, I don’t recall any of the restaurants that we ate at. I only remember how delicious the food in Italy was in general.
Final Europe travel tips
- Water is not free. If you say yes to water at the restaurant, it will be added to your bill.
- Streets are often uneven or made of cobblestone. Therefore, pack light and have high-quality luggage.
- Make sure to have adapters for all of your electronics.
- You will need a dual-voltage flat or curling iron. A regular single voltage will not work.
- If you plan to do laundry, know that most flats won’t have a tumble drier. People use drying racks. Make sure to have clothing that dries fast.
- If your phone plan won’t allow you to use data while abroad, make sure to print all of your reservations, maps, etc.
- In many coffee shops in Italy, they will charge you more if you want to sit down to have your coffee. Therefore, you see many locals grab an espresso at the counter before going on their way.
- Meals take much longer in Europe than in America. Don’t try to rush the service. You are in their country, not yours.
In conclusion
Italy remains one of my favorite vacations. It has so much to offer. Even this Italy trip itinerary doesn’t cover the entire country. I cannot wait to go back and explore some more. I hope this guide helps you create your perfect trip.
Bon voyage!
Cat xx