A friend of mine asked me about my recommendations for their quick visit to Italy. Following were my notes based on my experience for: Italy Trip Planning.
Path
- Land at Roma (min. 3 days)
- A train to Pisa, tour the city for couple of hours
- A bus to Hotel de Carlos between Pisa and Lucca (you can skip but it’s very cozy one)
- Visit Lucca next day for few hours.
- A train to Venice (min. 2 days)
- Fly out of Italy from Venice
If you want to visit Florence, Sienna, or Cortona, you have to arrange it around Lucca (or, of course, Florence). For example, when done with Venice, take the train to Rome. Stop in Florence for few days to visit Sienna and Cortona. Then fly out of Italy from Rome. In this area, I download CSEM EMSC (lastquake) app for earthquakes notifications if any.
Rome
Recommended Hotels: Mecenate Palace Hotel (Santa Maria Maggiore), Santa Maria (Trastevere), Hotel Damaso (Campo de Fiori)
Must visit: Vatican, Santa Maria Maggiore, Campo de’ Fiori, Vatican, Colosseum, Trastevere Hill (and the Basilica di Santa Maria), Spanish Steps, and Fontana de Trevi. If cooking classes are open, don’t miss it. Villa Borghese is a must. d’Esti garden if you can (near Rome)
Florence
Recommended Hotels: Residenza Il Villino B&B (near Piazza della Repubblica), Hotel David (the nearby hill is amazing: Piazzale Michelangelo)
Must visit: Piazza della Repubblica & the near cafes in addition to the bridge shops.
Venice
Try to stay at hotel with view at the Grand Canal. I prefer near the train station of the island. There, you’ll easily find about what to see and what to do..
Milan, Naples
In all my trips to Italy, I repeat the above path. For Milan, it’s a modern city that its life/tourism might be different than the old or country side of Italy. However, Lake Como is wonderful. Amalfi coast and sea caves in Napoli are amazing too.
Our beloved Italian friend, Paola, named Matera, Alberobello, and Lecce as must-see places in the South too.
P.S., this isn’t a sponsored post; I have no affiliate with any mentioned name. It’s totally based on my experience and own taste.
Thank you for a very good and personal guide.
I agree. The mentioned cities are all must-see, even it is hard to single out places in Italy, because there is so much to see all over the country; 58 UNESCO sites (Top 1 in the World along with China).
Two extra tips:
1. In corona times, in order to enter Italy, one should fill out a Passenger Locator Form for Italy (found via internet search) OR maybe something similar.
2. Before travelling: Reserve a place and book tickets on official booking sites, because at the moment e.g. in Rome, many places there are no ticket sales and there is a waiting list to get into attractions. So do book in advance to be able to visit places like Colosseum. I also recommend the Vatican Museum, which is extraordinary. And/or visit St. Peters Cathedral (Basilica St. Pietro).
Happy travel.
Thanks a lot, Marina, for the very important notes. Very helpful additions.
And Yes, visiting Vatican, while in Rome, is a must and one of the postulates. It and Basilica St. Pietro shine most during Christmas’ of course. (post updated)
Thank you for your attention to my country. Please, don’t forget the South and the Isles!
Grazie mille, Paola. Who doesn’t love Italy! Sure, I just don’t have much experience in the south area and I tried to keep the post in cope with my own experience. As Italian, would you please shortly mention the must-to-see things there?
Matera, Alberobello, Lecce: just three places that you can’t catch from a picture, you must go to understand that they are unique places in the world. Anyway, after a quick visit I suggest to choose a town or a region, and to visit it properly. Italy is full of masterpieces. For instance, some days ago I visited Siena, and it took two days to see everything I wanted to see. Hours in the Duomo …
Wow, Paola. Amazing… Thanks a lot for the advice. I’m adding it to the post itself… I will in our next trip – hopefully in the foreseen future.
Happy to be useful. I have a travel blog too, http://www.viaggiedeventuali.it, where you can read a lot about my journeys in Italy. It’s ongoing
Sure, you have wonderful blog, Paola, and I enjoy it a lot
We have visited Italy a number of years ago but were on a motorbike trip with a previous coworker and native Italian. We visited Rome, Venice and Florence and some other lovely areas. Wish I could visit Italy again.
Morobike trip, WOW! You’re lucky for sure; I’m trying to imagine… Hopefully, you can visit it again and again, Esme.
Not so sure but one can but dream, For sure not on a motorbike should we do it as we have decided to sell out bikes so from now on it will be by foot
Hope you can do it again, Esme. It’s still wonderful by foot too; we do that most of the time 🙂
One can but dream of another trip to Italy
My husband’s and my first overseas trip together was to Italy. We fell in love with the country and people! Thanks for these recommendations.
Thank you, Jan. A first trip is always unforgettable especially if it was to a special place such as Italy.
Planning a trip to Italy is good when travel is open in UK (and Europe) for Covid-19. Thank you 😊
Thank you my friend for reading. Glad it was of a help. Hopefully travel will open soon as it was before
Yes. It is now open now but Covid-19 is likely to start again. So you have to be careful. Thank you!
Love your Italy Travel Guide, Thank you for it, Hope you would read and get insights from my post on How to Plan a Luxury vacation in 7 Quick Steps, https://misspresident.home.blog/2021/11/08/how-to-plan-a-luxury-vacation-in-7-quick-steps/
Thanks, Joann, for reading. Glad my post was of help. Sure, I’ve read yours and it’s very helpful. Keep the good work…
Thank you so much. Your post was indeed inspiring
💚
Nice article. As somebody who has been to Rome you have mentioned the best sites to visit. I have written about travelling Naples and the Amalfi coast in the last few days – https://faheyjames.wordpress.com/2021/11/24/5-best-tips-for-travelling-to-naples-and-the-amalfi-coast-in-2021/
Thanks James for your kind words. I’ve just finished reading your post and watching the video. Wow, you’ve done good job in both. Glad to get this opportunity
Thanks so much. I appreciate that alot. It was so fun to visit Italy again and appreciate all that it has to offer. I want to go back already 🤣
Italy is a wonderful place to visit! I’ve never been to beautiful Florence, but Rome is plenty to see in even a week or more. I’ve also been to Venice. As great as Venice is, I oddly liked some of the smaller towns just west of it even more, like Padua. The whole small town experience is something I’d hope they see at least a little of. If the bus trip stops briefly in some towns, that would be ideal.
Thank you very much for your inputs. They are very valuable. I agree with you; i travelled to Italy many times and I still feel there are a lot yet to been especially in Rome. Hopefully someday, I’ll be able to see those small towns in the west of Venice. In general small towns have their own charms
I have visited Italy a number of times. I love the scenery, people and the food. Lucca is a must 😊
Thank you very much. I apologize; I just noticed that I haven’t replied to your comment. The three combinations you mentioned are what make us keep visiting Italy. I adore Lucca too.