I understand how daunting it can be to begin planning a trip. That being said, trip planning is my absolute favorite thing to do… Hence the endless travel I partake in. I do, however, remember the stress that came about when I set out to plan a three month journey around Europe. It felt overwhelming to say the least. Regardless, I did it, and {for the most part – aside from forgetting to book accommodation in Dubrovnik, Croatia} it unfolded seamlessly. Today, I wanted to share how I spent my two weeks in Italy in hopes that it may inspire to start planning your own adventure.
I should probably disclose that I am not the spontaneous-type when it comes to making travel plans. I like to know where I am going, that I’ll have a place to rest my head, and that it will all fall within my budget. This is a super controversial topic within the travel community – but hey, it’s all up to personal preference.
Therefore, I had nearly every single flight, train, hostel, and Air Bnb booked prior to leaving for my three month journey. If you want me to share my entire three month itinerary visiting 15 countries, let me know in the comments below and I’ll make it happen.
We all know there is no way to see everything a country has to offer in a mere two weeks, but I tried to hit some highlights on my Italy itinerary including Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice and Cinque Terre.
Days 1 – 4: Rome
On day one, I flew out of Dubrovnik, Croatia and arrived in the eternal city itself. I always wanted to visit Rome {thanks Lizze McGuire movie}, so I was absolutely giddy upon arrival. I stayed in this adorable Air Bnb where I had a private room in a typical Italian apartment {equipped with a cheap pizzeria around the corner and all}.
In only a few short days, I was able to explore many of the popular sites within the city. On my first full day in Rome {technically day one was spent eating pizza on a rooftop terrace after my flight}, I made my way to Vatican City for some lunch and sightseeing. Following this I wandered around Piazza Venezia and Piazza Navona. You can read more about my first day in Rome here.
On my second full day in the eternal city, I paid a visit to the Colosseum the moment it opened and eventually made my way to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill {all three of which can be purchased as a package deal}. Finally, I made it to the Trevi fountain, a highlight for me in Rome {and the entirety of Italy}. You can read more about day two, here.
* Side note, I actually only spent 13 days total in Italy, but if I had that extra day I would have spent it in Rome. Therefore, it gets included in this portion of the itinerary.
Day 5: Florence
The next day, I traveled via train to Florence. I actually never spent a full day in Florence, which I somewhat regret to this day. Again, I understand ‘you can’t see it all’, but something was lacking for me in Florence, which you can read about here. I simply didn’t experience the same unconditional love of Italy’s capital city that I read so much about on other blogs prior to my visit.
Day 6: Tuscany
Tuscany, on the other hand… The next morning I was up bright and early to join a wine tour of the Tuscany region. The tour began in Florence, eventually making our way to Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and {the highlight} a family owned winery in Tuscany surrounded by the most stunning landscape you could imagine. I was, quite literally, in wine heaven.
I am not usually a fan of guided tours, but Tuscany is such a spread out region of Italy that by the end of the afternoon I was extremely happy with my decision. Plus, I got a sober driver out of the deal. You can read more about my day in Tuscany, here.
Day 7: Florence
The next day, I slept in, made some breakfast in my Air Bnb {settled right in the heart of Florence}, and eventually made my way to a train bound to Venice, Italy. While still in Florence though, I did manage to taste test some home-made raviolli, wander the cobblestoned outdoor markets, and pay a visit to Piazzale Michelangelo, which you can read more about here.
Days 8 – 9: Venice
Venice was a magical destination for me in Italy. This floating city felt like an adult playground, and I definitely took full advantage. Out of every city in Italy, Venice was the most expensive in terms of accommodation, but I managed to find an Air Bnb within my budget in the center of town. Unfortunately, it isn’t one that I would recommend. That being said, I discovered the most amazing restaurant in Venice, just down the road from it, called Enoteca Rio Marin.
Overall, I truly enjoyed my time in Venice. You can read whether or not riding a gondola is worth it here, and things to know before visiting, here.
Days 10 – 14: Cinque Terre
Finally, I ended my two week stay in Italy at the spectacular Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre isn’t an actual city, but a region made up of five smaller villages. It’s no secret that Cinque Terre was my favorite location in Italy. Luckily, I predicted this might be the case, therefore I made sure to spend a sufficient amount of time in this cliffside heaven. Specifically, I called Riomaggiore home for the remainder of my trip. I stayed at La Dolce Vita, and I can highly, highly recommend it. Classified as a hostel, it 100% felt as though I was sleeping in a hotel. You can read more about where to stay in Cinque Terre, here.
Overall, I was content with how I decided to spend two weeks in Italy. I am the type of traveler that enjoys packing a lot into each and every day. Rarely do I spend an afternoon sitting around ‘relaxing’ so to speak. Restlessness prevails more often than not, and I simply prefer to on the go.
I understand this itinerary may not be ideal for everyone, but this was my own personal take on Italy. I got around the country solely via train travel, which I always recommend. My budget was also quite tight {around 30 – 40 USD per night on accommodation and around the same amount to spend daily – excluding excursions}, so it can be done! You can read my full guide to planning your first solo trip, here.
What is your favorite destination within Italy? Where should I go next time I visit?
we would like to travel from Venice to Tuscany, on to Florence, Cinque Terre, Rome , Sorento and leave on a cruise to Greece from Naples. We definitely want to see Pompeii. Only planning on spending 14 days trying to get this accomplished without feeling like we are rushing. We are all in our late 60s so would love to do the train or tours
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