Go! Italy
Planning a trip to Italy?
Save time and money by using my detailed travel itineraries to top destinations around the world- full of culture, the best local food, fun activities, adventures, and relaxation.
This is a favorite Italy road trip itinerary (with some train travel,) and is fun for family travel. You will experience the best of the ancient city of Rome, the Medieval Tuscan hill town of San Gimignano, the Renaissance city of Florence, and finally some time at the beach in the picturesque Cinque Terre. A visit to enchanting Venice is an option to add on to the end.
Many tourists travel to Italy and only see Rome, Florence, and sometimes Venice. They are missing out! These are some of the top places to go in Italy, but there is so much more to this outstanding country. Experience the fascinating big cities and discover some of the top must-see small Italian towns.
In the slower paced countryside and beach towns, you will absorb more of the wonderful culture and enjoy the breathtaking surroundings. This Italy itinerary has it all. There are lots of things to do that will keep parents and kids of all ages intrigued. This is a worldwide travel family favorite!
Italy Itineraries:
2 week Italy itinerary
2 weeks in Italy- Rome, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, and Venice
Italy Itinerary 12 Days
12 days in Italy- use the 14 day Italy itinerary, staying fewer nights in one or two places
10 day Italy Itinerary
10 days in Italy- Rome, Tuscany, and Cinque Terre
Italy itinerary 7 Days
7 days in Italy- use the 10 day Italy itinerary, but stay fewer nights in each destination
Ready to go to Italy? Let’s go!
10 Day Italy Itinerary
3 Days in Rome
Get There
How to get from the airport into the city center of Rome
- Fly into Rome
- Go to the official taxi line to catch a cab to your accommodations (vans are available for families of 5 or more.)
Stay
Where to stay in Rome
- Stay in an apartment, hotel, or bed & breakfast in the central Pantheon and Piazza Navona area. For a more local neighborhood outside of the center stay in Trastevere.
Book a Rome hotel, Bed & Breakfast or Apartment.
Looking for a Rome Hotel? Check out these great top rated options:
- Di Rienzo Pantheon- Excellent location by the Pantheon, B&B rooms (with rooftop terrace) and apartments. Breakfast is served on the Piazza in front of the Pantheon.
- Lifestyle Suites Rome - Modern and elegant boutique hotel and one of the highest rated on Trip Advisor
Looking for more? Search for a great deal in this area of Rome on Booking.com or find a new favorite by searching more reviews on Trip Advisor!
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Things to do in Rome
- There are so many things to do in Rome!
- Take Colosseum tour that includes the underground dungeon and 3rd ring
- The Vatican, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and Sistine Chapel- consider hiring a tour guide for this
- Take the underground tour of St. Peter’s tomb and Necropolis (kids must be at least 15 years old)
- Check out the Roman Forum and Circus Maximus
- Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona, and Campo de ‘Fiori
- Walk around the Trastevere neighborhood
- Get up to a rooftop terrace to look at the amazing view of the rooftops
- Sit at the Trevi Fountain, then walk to the Spanish Steps and do a little shopping in this store packed area
Eat
Where to eat in Rome and what to eat in Rome
- Great coffee is easy to find, but Sant-Eustachio il Caffe (since 1938) is remarkable
- Try the specialty pasta of Rome cacio y pepe (cheese and pepper) It’s a family favorite.
- Enjoy a takeout piece of pizza from Forno and sit on the famous Campo D’Fiore square. There is a great farmer’s market here every morning (since 1869.)
- For some authentic Roman food in a local neighborhood eat at Da Enzo in the Trastevere. Dar Poeta, down the street, has great pizza.
Check out my detailed Rome Itinerary for 2, 3 or 4 days
Rome Travel Tip: Gelato is everywhere. Make sure to go to an authentic gelato shop where the quality is high and it is homemade (you shouldn’t see any colors that don’t come naturally from food!)
*Pack carry on only! Get the Carry On Packlist for Italy*
10 Days in Italy Itinerary- self drive Italy itinerary
5 Days in Tuscany & Florence
*For the 2 weeks or 12 day Italy itinerary, it is an option to stay 1 week in Tuscany
Get There
How to get from Rome to Tuscany
- Rent a car at Termini in Rome. If you are not comfortable driving in Rome rent a car at a location outside of the city near the highway heading north. Drive to San Gimignano via the A1 Autostrada (toll road.) *This is a one-way car rental, dropping off in Pisa (at or near the train station)
*Don’t miss the need to know Driving in Italy and Renting a Car post*
Italy Travel Tips
- Grab a ticket when entering at the toll station. When exiting get in the cash or credit card lines then insert your ticket and pay.
- Stop and have an espresso or cappuccino at one of the many gas station/cafes on the highway. (Yes, there is excellent coffee at the gas stations in Italy!)
Optional Stop: Park and ride the funicular up to the 1000 foot high walled town of Orvieto and have lunch.
Stay
Where to stay in Tuscany
- Stay outside of the Tuscan hill town of San Gimignano in an agriturismo (with a pool in warm weather months!)
Book an agriturismo in San Gimignano.
Looking for a San Gimignano hotel? Check out these great top rated options:
- Agriturismo Poggiacolle- One of my favorites and the online reviewers agree. I have sent family and friends and everyone loves this place! Stay in an apartment and ask for a view of the medieval towers.
- Locanda Dell’ Artista- Another gorgeous farmhouse (growing grapes and olives) with a panoramic pool and restaurant. Rooms and suites available.
Looking for more? Search for a great deal in this area of San Gimignano on Booking.com or find a new favorite by searching more reviews on Trip Advisor!
Tuscany Road Trip
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Things to do in Tuscany
- There are some fun things to do in San Gimignano. Stroll the interior of the walls for an afternoon or evening. Head to the Piazza Del Duomo, see the San Gimignano Cathedral or the Piazza della Cisterna. Shop in the stores that have local products then enjoy a gelato while marveling at the towers and the town’s history!
- Florence- A Renaissance stunner full of art and culture. Leave EARLY and get there before the masses of tourists. Plan out where to park in advance, an set your directions to go there.
- Siena- Enter this UNESCO World Heritage site through one of the seven gates.
***Siena Travel Tip: Take a picture of the gate you enter so you can find your car when you exit!
- Volterra- visit this lesser-known Tuscan gem.
Eat
Where to eat in Tuscany and what to eat in Tuscany
- Have dinner at your agriturismo. Many offer multi-course dinners with ingredients from their farm or get a recommendation for one nearby.
- Get a list of the weekly farmer’s markets in the area and shop for produce, local cheese (taste as many as you like), meats, and fresh bread. Try the many fantastic types of Tuscan cheeses and wines and some local olive oil.
- Cook Tuscan food if you have a kitchen!
*Get the Best Travel Apps for International Travel*
10 day Italian itinerary
2 Days in Monterosso al Mare - Cinque Terre
Get There
How to get to Cinque Terre
- Drive to Pisa. Take a quick look and photo of the Leaning Tower of Pisa then drop your car off at the train station. Take the Train to the beautiful beach town of Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost town of the five.
Stay
Where to stay in Cinque Terre
- Stay in a bed & breakfast or apartment in the old part of Monterosso al Mare-there are many great choices with high ratings. This is the best town in Cinque Terre for families with kids.
Book a hotel, bed & breakfast, or apartment in Monterosso al Mare.
Looking for a Monterosso hotel? Check out these great top rated options:
- Hotel Marina- Simple accommodations in a convenient central location with a delicious breakfast included, as well as afternoon pasta.
- Hotel Stella Della Marina- Near the harbor with a sundeck on the roof.
Looking for more hotels or a beautiful apartment? Search for a great deal in Monterosso on Booking.com or find a new favorite by searching more reviews on Trip Advisor!
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Things to do in Cinque Terre
- Walk around the old and new parts of Monterosso, then spend some time on the beach.
- Take one of the best hikes in the Cinque Terre - to Vernazza. Then have lunch and take a boat or the train back.
Eat
What to eat in Cinque Terre
- This is the Liguria region of Italy, home to two of the best Italian things to eat- pesto pasta and focaccia (bread pressed, doused in olive oil, sprinkled with salt and baked to perfection!)
Getting Home from Italy
- Take the train to the airport. Fly out of Pisa, Florence or Milan.
*If your flight departs early, spend the night in the city you are flying out of. Arrange transportation to the airport in advance through your accommodations.
For a 2 week Italy itinerary:
2 Days in Venice
Get There
- Take the 5-hour train to Venice. Catch the Vaporetto (canal ferry) in the direction of St. Marks Square (make sure it is going towards St. Marks, through the canal).
Stay
- Stay in a hotel or apartment in a central location near Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square.)
Book a hotel or apartment in Venice. Search for a great deal in Venice on Booking.com
- For a bucket list big splurge, stay in the famous Gritti Palace!
Eat
Venice Travel Tips
- The restaurant prices in Venice are very high and there are a lot of tourist traps. Plan where to eat before you leave home by reading online reviews.
- Get up very early, before the crowds. Get a cappuccino or espresso to go (“da portare via”) from a bar near Piazza San Marco. Sit in one of the chairs and marvel at the Venetian splendor in peace (all of the restaurants will be closed if you get up early enough!)
- Save money and enjoy a nice Italian picnic or a takeaway pizza on the water near Piazza San Marco.
Getting Home
- Fly out of Venice or Milan
*Interested in more of the best places to go in Italy? Read Best Places to Visit in Italy*
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